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jodar'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The main theme to me was the exploration of the meaning of life though personal interactions, man-woman relationships, cross-cultural relationships, family, careers and all the variety of efforts the characters make to find fulfilment and inner peace.
The writing style is quite spartan and almost detached, even when discussing emotionally wrought ordeals. For me the novel had the sense of an investigation or series of discussions of life's meaning rather than any direct experiences of life events.
There are some eloquent passages, all the same, for example:
[I] thought of the strange transitions from enchantment to disenchantment and back again that moved through human affairs like cloudbanks, sometimes portentous and grey and sometimes mere distant inscrutable shapes that blotted out the sun for a while and then just as carelessly revealed it again. (Chapter 4)
I can understand why others may find the novel is not to their taste, but personally I found it fascinating, complex and engagingly reflective.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, and Infidelity
pabi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexism, and Vomit
miniritzreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
aniglen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Eating disorder
morganat57's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hannahlouise_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Infidelity
Moderate: Animal death and Blood
prideandparchment's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
courtsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder
literallyerin'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
4.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death