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haleyd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Excrement, Trafficking, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Classism
A sometimes humorous, sometimes depressing classic full of paradoxes and contradictions that only prove themselves true, this take on WWII was a bit difficult for me to get through. Once I knew the writing style was to intentionally include these opposites, I became bored and would fall asleep after a few pages. It went more quickly toward the end, but then it was just so sad in some of the final pages, it was that what became the challenge for me. I'm reading this as part of a goal to get through several lists of "banned books" I've found. While I don't think any books should be truly banned, this one made me think several times, "Eek. This is part of the reason this was banned." Most of that is because it is so repulsive and very graphic. But also, things were quite different when this book was written which is evidenced by some of the behaviors wherein described. It could possibly be argued that children's minds are too vulnerable, but I would personally argue that I'd be confident letting my own teenage child read this, knowing that I've raised her well. However, I would definitely warn her that she likely wouldn't want to.