Scan barcode
bookishmornings's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emoweaboo's review against another edition
Started in audiobook but didn't really stick to the style of writing, which while being poetic didn't really grab me. I might go back to it later, but atm i feel it's just not for me.
ka_schulze's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Body horror and Self harm
tsehai's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.75
sanchara's review against another edition
I liked that the story is stylised in these verses, making them expressive. Given our unconventionally mute narrator this format comes across as astute. To serve this purpose the text strays away from being descriptive of any grounding in reality. This unfortunately made the reading experience feel wayward and in some way lacking. I was missing any warmth that I could return to, each time I picked up the book. But when I would lay it down, it always took me some time to escape the book’s atmosphere.
So I’m torn as to how I feel about this one. And I think that’s okay.
So I’m torn as to how I feel about this one. And I think that’s okay.
rimbluebooks's review
dark
emotional
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
bethuhm's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It was an easy read and the illustration of the cover is lovely. The writing felt disjointed, I understood the abstract flow and storytelling but it felt empty. Lots of story’s in the book about other characters were left untold, David, Kirsty and the SA. There were areas of the story where I wanted to understand more, especially the mother’s mental health. I think there was a lot to take from the writing and the story to link to the mother but it took a while to see where it was going. I liked the gardening aspect and the escapism theme within the book. I felt like it was a conversational tone, and there wasn’t a plot, and maybe that was the point of the book as it was Ruby’s POV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
Read this more or less in one go. A weird book. Not a story as such, but vignettes, memories of a life, of friendships and relationships. Abstract slice of life. Absorbing.
lavrendy's review against another edition
3.0
sweet, subtle vignettes from a young girl named ruby. nothing major to report except that it’s another great addition to my collections about girlhood and motherhood!
littlehonourings's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A poetic exploration of family, love and madness