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jenpurlteach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
anne_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurebound7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
moond4ncer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
emilyrollande's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, and Sexual content
pam_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, and Pandemic/Epidemic
maggies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer, Grief, and Abortion
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
+1 for showcasing summer stock theatre, what I lovingly call the “wild west” of the theatre industry. My heart! With it always.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and Abortion
mariposa517's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Infidelity, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War
cassiealexandra's review against another edition
4.25
The story framing was very interesting to me. I liked that it took a look at Lara’s coming-of-age through the lens of her telling her grown daughters about it. I appreciated the look at nostalgia, suffering (worldwide), legacy, contentment, and the sweet and deep love between husband and wife and family. I was also surprised by the moments of humor in a somewhat serious read.
There were a couple of plot points that seemed to come out of nowhere for me; they seemed nearly unnecessary. The pacing also seemed to slow down at a couple points and I would have preferred it staying steady. I also got confused at a couple of points because of the way the story was framed and reading by audio. I think some of these confusing moments could have been cleared up had I read it in print. And speaking of the audio, I hate to say it, but I had a difficult time with Meryl Streep. I couldn’t keep myself from picturing her instead of picturing our character, Lara, and that was a slight distraction throughout.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and appreciated the writing style and themes, but I think I may have liked the experience more in print.
— NOTES —
Genres: literary fiction
POV: first-person, singular
Content: pandemic, infidelity, death of loved ones (a couple other things that are spoilers)
Romance: mostly vague implied intimacy and a couple minor sexual situations
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 4
Craft: 5
My Gut Feeling: 4
Total Stars: 4.25
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Suicide and Abortion