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sophtanda'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
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Colonisation
abithoughtful'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? It's complicated
4.0
The multiple perspectives really help to nail home the novel's key themes about the utterly ludicrous nature of racist British attitudes, particularly against the historical backdrop. I really loved that all our narrators are flawed in some way or another - all equally human, with weaknesses that overlap in really resonant ways (the way Hortense and Bernard both jump to conclusions, how Queenie and Hortense both consider themselves a little above those they grew up with, how Gilbert and Bernard both naively cling to hopes of heroism and harebrained schemes for riches, how Queenie and Hortense and Gilbert all get married for primary reasons that aren't love). There's a wonderful subtlety to Levy's characterisation, and her characters are so believable.
I don't think the novel necessarily needed the
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and War
Moderate: Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
crazytourists_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I liked the characters, they could all be my next door neighbours, people I meet everyday at my kids school. They were very well developed, with good and bad moments, with flaws and virtues. They could be real humans. And that, in combination with a good story, is what makes a great book.
The story itself is quite interesting, the pre and post WWII English society, with the not so subtle racism towards the citizens of their colonies, who were obviously good enough to exploit and use and have them fight in the war but not good enough to walk in the pavements of "the mother country", work and live and prosper.
It does show the ugly face of England, that mentality and argument used by the brexit supporters against immigrants. And that ugly face is portrayed brilliantly.
A great book, a worthy winner of the awards that it received.
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, and War
pia_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood and Grief
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion