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mayenk's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
God, I didn't know it was going to be so sad. And it's not their fault, it's just the cruelty of adults at times. Juno loves legs, and i do too, I also love Juno too.
nadspowell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
vishalancyrus's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
One thing about Irish literature: it has an unparalleled knack for tugging at the hearts, whether with raw emotion or quiet melancholy, and bringing the tears out of your eyes. This is no exception. Through the eyes of Juno and Legs, two outcast teens navigating the harsh realities of Dublin, Geary crafts a story that is both tender and devastating. The prose is spare yet powerful, each word carefully chosen to evoke deep emotions. A tale of friendship, resilience, and the aching beauty of survival against all odds.
One thing about Irish literature: it has an unparalleled knack for tugging at the hearts, whether with raw emotion or quiet melancholy, and bringing the tears out of your eyes. This is no exception. Through the eyes of Juno and Legs, two outcast teens navigating the harsh realities of Dublin, Geary crafts a story that is both tender and devastating. The prose is spare yet powerful, each word carefully chosen to evoke deep emotions. A tale of friendship, resilience, and the aching beauty of survival against all odds.
katyanyan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mimmir's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
raquelrodrigues091's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was a good read, not my favorites, didnt really understand the ending but thats fine
I would recommend but it can have heavy topics so just pay attention
I would recommend but it can have heavy topics so just pay attention
hxs623's review against another edition
3.75
What would happen if Just Kids by Patti Smith was set in Ireland and instead of getting famous, the characters would just get more and more sad? The answer is this book.
I have a unique place in my heart for books like Juno Loves Legs: slow, sad studies of class struggles fused with a coming-of-age narrative. Pairing children and poverty is a simple trick to make your readers cry, and I fall for it every time.
The titular character, Juno, is the novel's main strength. A temperamental, fierce young girl whose relationship with her faith, family, and best friend Legs was an ambitious attempt to summarise in 200 or so pages.
The book deals with a lot of intriguing themes: religion, platonic love, and violence. The prose is beautiful but not distractingly poetic. There is still an underlying feeling that Geary kept the narrative surface-level, the imagery a bit too on the nose, and the message too easy to decipher. At times, it felt like I was reading a creative writing assignment rather than a story someone wrote on their own accord. It left me wishing for more at the end.
As an English teacher, I kept thinking of how much my high schoolers would enjoy this novel and how it would be wonderful material for a class to teach a variety of literary devices. As a reader, though, I wished for a more balanced pacing as the passing years between the three parts were jarring, often the shifts in relationships were left unexplored and unexplained, which ultimately ended up hurting the emotional impact of the story.
My reading experience was slightly tainted by having read Just Kids a few weeks prior. It was difficult not to compare the two and notice where Juno fell short in creating a compelling female voice and establishing a deep connection not only between boy and girl, but also between book and reader.
I have a unique place in my heart for books like Juno Loves Legs: slow, sad studies of class struggles fused with a coming-of-age narrative. Pairing children and poverty is a simple trick to make your readers cry, and I fall for it every time.
The titular character, Juno, is the novel's main strength. A temperamental, fierce young girl whose relationship with her faith, family, and best friend Legs was an ambitious attempt to summarise in 200 or so pages.
The book deals with a lot of intriguing themes: religion, platonic love, and violence. The prose is beautiful but not distractingly poetic. There is still an underlying feeling that Geary kept the narrative surface-level, the imagery a bit too on the nose, and the message too easy to decipher. At times, it felt like I was reading a creative writing assignment rather than a story someone wrote on their own accord. It left me wishing for more at the end.
As an English teacher, I kept thinking of how much my high schoolers would enjoy this novel and how it would be wonderful material for a class to teach a variety of literary devices. As a reader, though, I wished for a more balanced pacing as the passing years between the three parts were jarring, often the shifts in relationships were left unexplored and unexplained, which ultimately ended up hurting the emotional impact of the story.
My reading experience was slightly tainted by having read Just Kids a few weeks prior. It was difficult not to compare the two and notice where Juno fell short in creating a compelling female voice and establishing a deep connection not only between boy and girl, but also between book and reader.
grahamusher's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0