Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

8 reviews

empathreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It's amusing how the journey went from initially disliking the main character to gradually rooting for her, but not really (picky on some parts). There are reasons behind every action and the subsequent consequences, regardless of how positive or dire they may be. If it's not you fulfilling something in that life, something is bound to happen. The subtleties throughout the book, along with metaphors leading up to the years portrayed, shed light on generational patterns. Ultimately, it's her choice, and the outcome remains uncertain. The ending brings about new beginnings—whether good or bad, it could be either or even both.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Grief, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Incest, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Death

jayjm94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s a beautifully written, emotional novel about love, marriage, family, violence and a very old beach home. I read it in about 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down from the first line. With that said the plot is winding, tense, and brutal at times. I never felt like the upsetting scenes were overwrought though. The main character is flawed and makes a series of choices throughout the novel that ultimately come to make perfect sense. The ending is ambiguous, but I enjoyed it and felt it was earned.  To read this book in a beach house or even on a lake would be divine. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Ableism, Blood, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, and Misogyny

Moderate: Incest, Child abuse, Child death, and Cursing

Minor: Mental illness and Murder

jahncie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Blood, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Cancer, Death, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, and Pregnancy

kfquarium's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Cursing, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Incest

Minor: Blood, Bullying, and Excrement

lindsayhotrod's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Infidelity, Incest, and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Child death, and Classism

Minor: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Dementia, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Body shaming

paulabekkerus's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness

kdenten's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Cancer, and Child death

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

It took me about 50 pages to get into this book, but then I couldn't put it down.  I loved it and feel like this place and characters are old friends.

This book may not be for everyone.  The non-linear storyline can be confusing.  I'm not sure it would work as an audiobook.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Vomit

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Medical content, and Terminal illness

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt