jbpalumbo's review against another edition
- 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
Spoiler
three and half years in a mental institutionGraphic: 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.julia_treat99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Blood, Cancer, Genocide, Racial slurs, and War
jenn_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Death, and War
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcohol, Child death, and Rape
Gang rape, bombings, lobotomyfifteenthjessica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
World War II is in full swing, and decrypting German and Italian messages may be the difference between victory and defeat. Bletchley Park becomes a center of British Intelligence activity, and with many men at war, women are among the people brought in to help. Three of the women--Osla Kendall, a witty socialite who aspires to be seen as more than a ditzy debutante; Mab Churt, a jaded young woman from the poor side of London determined to make a better life for herself; and Beth Finch, a spinster near Bletchley Park who after years of bullying from her mother thinks she's not good for much else other than household help and solving crossword puzzles--form a strong friendship that breaks before the end of the war. A few years later, as the world prepares to watch Osla's war time beau Philip marry Princess Elizabeth, Osla and Mab receive coded letters from Beth saying that there was a traitor at Bletchley Park who was behind her commitment to an insane asylum, and she needs their help get out and catch them.
The novel is overall excellent, most of the characters are lovable (although the traitor felt very two-dimensional), and Quinn shows skill with the genres she blends for this. As someone who isn't that big on romance, I did find myself rooting for most of the couples, even to a certain extent Philip and Osla's doomed romance, however, it would have been nicer if there was more code breaking and mystery worked in. At times, Bletchley Park feels like it's only present in the novel to put higher stakes into the 1947 portion. Another thing is that Quinn paints a great portrait of how, even in relatively egalitarian places like Bletchley Park, misogyny still rears its ugly head.
I was initially going to give it 5 stars, but looking back over my notes, I remembered some pacing issues. At times the narrative switching between the war years and the madcap hunt for the traitor before Philip and Elizabeth's wedding (as well as between the three main characters' POV) was well done, other times it was questionable. Probably the worst incident of this is Beth coming to a (false) conclusion of who the traitor is, only for the very next chapter to reveal the traitor's real identity when they literally show up and tell her. Not to mention, chapter 3 gave such a strong portrait of Mab and Osla's characters that Chapters 1 and 2 seemed extraneous except for bring up some important relationships they have with people outside of Bletchley Park.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Confinement
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, War, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Medical content, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Blood, Chronic illness, Genocide, and Racism
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and War
Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Slavery
navayiota's review against another edition
- 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
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
ebba94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and War
leahrosiee's review against another edition
- 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
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
fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It's a perfect complement to the typical WWII books and I've always been interested in the Bletchly Park codebreakers. I did feel that it was a little too long, but it was beautifully written and I can't wait to read more by Kate Quinn.
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, War, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Blood and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Animal cruelty
bookiemonster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Vomit, Rape, Mental illness, and Cursing