Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

30 reviews

tinkeringcheck's review

challenging emotional informative sad slow-paced

3.25

Read for a book club, and I while this book obviously resonates with many readers it just wasn't for me. The prose is well-written but it's quite heavy without much reprieve (mind the content warnings, they're graphic) and I didn't really feel like the main character voices were distinguishable from each other despite some strong side characters. Even when I started to get sucked in, a few last minute twists and left-field character beats shook me out of the story again. I'm looking at you, future Nancy storyline.

I also feel bad saying this, but I'm not a big fan of books that feel like they were written mainly to Educate the Reader instead of tell a story. I might have bounced off because I know too much about the abortion rights movement in Canada already, but I'm glad this book is making that history more accessible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders

modryzamek's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

greendog1200's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity and Rape

jaklindberg's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

raisavibes's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

If I didn’t read this book, I would have never learnt about the postwar maternity homes and forced adoption mandate. This story will take you on an emotional ride through motherhood and understand the importance of your right to want to be a mother. Every child a wanted child.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Abandonment

Includes a great cause that you could help with!

itsmaryssae's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring tense

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

migimon2002's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Infertility, and Infidelity

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder

athenabe's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Rape, Self harm, and Blood

shae_reads's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Miscarriage, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs