pseudolain's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
mariamnel's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Death, and Mental illness
isabellamonco's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, and Death of parent
kell_xavi's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This is a somber novel flush with strangeness. It is narrated by Ruthie, and begins with a story of her grandfather taking a train into Fingerbone and staying there, where her grandmother would raise four daughters alone, and the daughters would flee and some would return to wander through and leave parts of themselves behind. Two main themes are home and family, and how melancholy can pervade these both—the story takes place mainly in Fingerbone, between its train and its river, and often within the walls of the house Ruthie’s grandfather built. Both place and lineage hold tragedy, mental illness or neurodivergence creating spaces between people, silences, dissociative hazes, passivity or disinterest or simply desires for elsewhere and other people.
Robinson writes in beautiful language that reads like clear water. Though some parts of this book are heavy, full of filth, discomfort and neglect that made me anxious and sad, the writing binds them together with crisp imagery, reflection on religion and memory, a sense of peace within the creeping fear. I look forward to reading more by her.
Robinson writes in beautiful language that reads like clear water. Though some parts of this book are heavy, full of filth, discomfort and neglect that made me anxious and sad, the writing binds them together with crisp imagery, reflection on religion and memory, a sense of peace within the creeping fear. I look forward to reading more by her.
Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, Death, and Death of parent
ekmoore11's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Abandonment
vague_coffeecup's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Suicide
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