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mana_elena's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I also thought it was interesting how the character we are first introduced to forms the through line for the story and especially how our initial perspective of her affects the other stories she appears in, adding some dramatic irony to other people's opinions of her. The novel doesn't have a main character, strictly speaking, but she is the main character, as far as I'm concerned.
I personally found the second to last chapter a compelling "end" to the story, but I think the author felt it was necessary/honest to have it end the way that it did. I can see how it rounds out the perspectives shared in the book. As a personal preference, though, stories set in the near future break my suspension of disbelief. Egan's predictions for the 2020's are pretty good in many respects and I think suit the tone and message of the book, I just didn't like having to "learn" a new setting in the last chapter.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Racism
dameevewills's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
traa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Genocide, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and War
gwendle_vs_literature's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is an excellent book. It reads more like a collection of short stories, with each chapter focused on a different character, but the way they all weave together and connect in the end is really impressive and beautiful, and by the time I’d finished it I understood why it’s billed as a novel.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
One chapter/story was difficult to read because it describes an attempted sexual assault from the perspective of the person who had committed it, so be careful of that if it might be triggering for you — chapter 9. There are other mentions of that event, as well as sketchy situations with sexual relationships between adults and minors, but chapter 9 is the one that’s overtly violent.emmyinthestacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
mayapetrick's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Child abuse, Genocide, and Sexual harassment