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tlaynejones's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
I alternated between thinking this was an easy five star read, to thinking I’d resent even giving it a three star rating. Back and forth. There is a great story here, it just meandered too much at times. The author included a lot of side stories, recollections, and layers of perspective. These were all interesting, but when added together they slowed the pace and distracted.
I also wasn’t thrilled with the portrayal of women. This is harder to critique because of the portrayal of a culture I don’t know much about, but it left me feeling frustrated.
I also wasn’t thrilled with the portrayal of women. This is harder to critique because of the portrayal of a culture I don’t know much about, but it left me feeling frustrated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Antisemitism, Trafficking, and Classism
sarah984's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
The voice in this is super fun and parts of it were genuinely affecting (I loved the story about the "heroic" census taker, and the schism in the town between the two Rabbis who had heard the story of the Holocaust as children was devastating). The book was way too long, though, with a lot of wasted page time, a pointless ending, and terrible writing about women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Stalking
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Rape, Islamophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail