Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

8 reviews

catherine_t's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Three very different women find purpose working at Bletchley Park during World War II. Osla Kendall is a Canadian-born debutante who fled cousins in Montreal for London so she could join the fight and do her bit. Mab Churt is a Londoner who's struggled to put her past behind her, looking for the next rung on the ladder that will lift her out of the poverty she grew up in. Beth Fitch is a mousy spinster under her domineering mother's thumb. Together, they join the women and men breaking codes to win the war. 

But there's a traitor in their midst, and only Beth can crack the code to learn their identity...

I can't say I enjoyed this book as much as the last one of Quinn's I read. I figured out who the traitor was early on, and basically read through to the end to see if I was right. In fact, barring one twist, I saw everything coming. I'm not sure if I'm particularly sharp or if the twists were just that obvious.

I'm also not sure that Quinn realizes that Canada declared war on Germany just days after Great Britain did, from the attitudes she has Osla express. Women here might not have been building bombers, but they were definitely building bombs for the bombers to drop, among other important war work. (And yes, some of them worked in intelligence--even as spies for the Allies.) 

I didn't dislike The Rose Code. I liked the characters, especially Beth, who had the most dramatic transformation, from beaten-down woman dominated (even abused) by her mother to brilliant code-breaker with a life of her own. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Child death, Grief, and Physical abuse

jbpalumbo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A sweeping historical war-time novel; almost a math geek's League of Their Own. I enjoyed learning about an aspect of WWII history that I had not previously heard about. I also thoroughly enjoyed coming along for the ride of the (fictionalized) rise, fall, and rise again of a trio of war-time friends. As one would expect with a novel set in England during WWII, there is a fair amount of discussion around loss and violence. As the book is centered on a trio of women, the loss and violence they experience is, to a certain degree, reflective of their gender and the patriarchal constructs of the time, though I do appreciate the author's challenge to these experiences. There was just enough romance blended into the book and a solid HEA/HFN for each of the primary characters to keep it from being a complete, war-time downer, though please do read through the content warnings if you have any sensitivity to specific issues because, in more than 600 pages, pretty much every type of loss/traumatic experience is explored to some degree. I did not love that the character coded as autistic ends up spending

three and half years in a mental institution

, even if it was completely irrelevant to their neurodiversity. It just felt kind of ick. Though I, overall, enjoyed the character development, after about 500 pages, had to chuckle at the neat twists that had to snap into place to get to the HEA/HFN. While improbable on balance, those twists make for a satisfying (if not slightly madcap) outcome to an interesting corner of well-fictionalized history. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Confinement, Abandonment, Cancer, Classism, Child death, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, and Bullying

Moderate: Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Terminal illness, Racism, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, and Infidelity

Minor: Vomit, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abortion

The racism and islamophobia are challenged to a degree. There is also a favorable depiction of an open marriage where criticism thereof is challenged.

sofiazee's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

It’s been a long while since I come across a 5 star read. We meet with 3 ladies, Osla, Mab, and Beth, all with vastly different personalities and backgrounds. They kicked off their unlikely friendships after being recruited to Bletchley Park as code breakers.

The story was presented by alternating two time lines: one during ww2, another 3 years after the war. Both weaved in and out seamlessly, building up tension and mystery as we eagerly read on to find out what exactly happened to them, then who shared secrets and camaraderie, but ended up hating each other? 

Many, if not all, of the characters are very realistic and fully developed, with their distinct flaws, language, and quirks. At the beginning the plot seems to be somewhat slow, but it was necessary to build up the setting and characters. The final few chapters were a bit too rushed in my opinion, but it did not ruin the reading experience.

I’m so glad to come across this book. Highly recommended for historical buffs!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: War, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Bullying

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

For the most part, The Rose Code was a gripping, compelling work set against the backdrop of the Bletchley Park codebreaking operation in Buckinghamshire, England, during the Second World War.

The novel follows three women who worked there - socialite Osla Kendall, working-class Mabel "Mab" Churt, and shy but brilliant local girl, Bethan "Beth" Finch who today would probably be diagnosed as autistic.

Kate Quinn excels in creating a vivid atmosphere, rich in historical detail with characters who feel three-dimensional.  These characters are either composites of real people, fictionalised versions of real people, or actual historical figures - such as the late Prince Philip

(who the fictionalised Osla is in a relationship with, as was the real Osla before he married the now-late Queen)

, the-then Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Winston Churchill.

But even though it's clear that Quinn did her homework on history, I found that upon reading the extensive author's note, I disliked the way she adapted characters and historical events to suit the plot. I know most authors of historical fiction do this, and normally I don't have a problem with it, but somehow it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it's because the backdrop of the novel is set in (relatively) recent times. I don't know - maybe it's just me.

Anyway, The Rose Code is still a beautifully written and excellently-paced novel - but if you're a historical purist, it might not be your cup of tea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, War, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Bullying, Racism, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Ableism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Antisemitism and Genocide

A past gang rape attempt is described. The survivor, Mab, manages to fend off her attackers, and as a result of this, she has a fear of sexual intimacy. Another main character, Beth, is probably autistic - although this is never stated explicitly. She is bullied by her mother. Once employed at Bletchley Park, Beth experiences breakdowns and burnout, and works for hours at a time. She is later sent by one of the other employees at Bletchley Park to a sanatorium in order to ensure her silence about an act of treason. Once there, she is coerced, abused and gaslighted by the staff and on one occasion exchanges sexual favours for information. She also later is threatened with undergoing a lobotomy, and the procedure is described in detail. It does occur to another minor character, but Beth is rescued before the procedure is carried out.

She also has an affair with a married man called Harry Zarb. Harry and his wife Sheila have an open marriage, staying together for the sake of their only son, who has polio.

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative sad tense 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

4.5

Kate Quinn DOES NOT MISS! So far, she is one of my favourite authors. She has such an engaging writing style and I have a real soft spot for historical fiction so her stuff is right up my alley, though I was a bit worried when I saw that prince Philip was a love interest in this one, haha. Seriously did not disappoint, I will definitely be reading the rest of her books. I loved Mab, and I think she is one of the best characters in the book. I really felt her pain and wanted to beat up the ones who hurt her. I really recommend this book, but be sure to check the triggers!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Confinement, Genocide, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Torture, and War

Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Vomit, Bullying, and Car accident

Minor: Cursing

leahrosiee's review against another edition

inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death, and War

Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, Alcohol, Medical trauma, and Sexism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Bullying, and Mental illness

jlewis's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There are a good many flaws in this book, which is a pity, but even so I enjoyed it (audio version) immensely. Set in WW2 at Bletchley Park, the protagonists are 3 very different women who work there and the relationship between them. Even though I have been to Bletchley Park, I felt I had a much better idea of the work there after reading this book, but it wasn’t heavy-handed in too much technical detail. 
The book moves between the war years and 1947, with a slow build-up to why the relationship between the 3 women has gone so badly wrong, and then quite a fast-paced and tense resolution at the end. 
So what are the faults?  Well, the author is American and there is quite a lot of American vocabulary that could have done with being edited by a British editor. And she seems oblivious to how rare household  telephones were in the war years in Britain, and certainly would not have been found in an impoverished East End house. Worst of all, in the audio version, the narrator pronounces Keswick as Kes-Wick. 
Some of the plot centres around one of the lead characters being in a relationship with Prince Philip. While I think his character is drawn with a good deal of respect, I’m not sure it adds much to the book and an alternative, fictional aristocrat would have fitted the bill equally. 
But my biggest complaint is the liberties she takes with her characters, particularly Beth, in order to drive the plot along. Her behaviour in the situation in which she finds herself in 1947 is utterly out of character, and there are other anomalies earlier in the book. 
Having said which, I look forward to reading more by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Racism

jenkneebee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence