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bookhoe1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It is also deeply emotional, I cried several times. I can only repeat my opening sentiment; it's a beautiful book.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
rhyme_not_reason's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War
thirdtimesacharm'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: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and War
beebowbabe'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
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
hannahpings'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Violence and War
mamaewalk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ephermeyal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual violence and War
grubrednuf'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
5.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Abandonment
Minor: War
jacquibear's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.75
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and War
percys_panda_pillow_pet'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
When Kelly Barnhill wants you to believe in something, she puts her whole soul into it. By the end of this book, I was convinced that dragoning was real, and wondering why I couldn't dragon myself away, or even if I could. I know at times her metaphor can fall apart at the seams, but that's honestly what helped ground it for me. These are dragons, these are women. Dragoning can mean everything and it can mean nothing, though the latter would be unusual. Pretty much every time, that meaning made me want to cry. Often, I did cry while reading this book. And after finishing it too. It struck a chord in me so forcefully: the depiction of female generational trauma and the mixing of rage and sadness and hurt and unfairness and love one can have for their mother.
At times, I was a bit frustrated with Barnhill's decisions throughout the book. I needed a bit more about trans people and what dragoning meant for them, and I know I am not alone in feeling like the intersectional aspects of feminism were a bit lacking, though in some ways that seems par for the course of the 50s and 60s. This book filled me with emptiness at the lack of catharsis in some areas. There was a lot of build up and not enough resolution for me at times. Which, in some ways, feels perfect for the messiness of life, that truthfully we don't often get the catharsis we need. But I disliked the hollowness and in the end, I felt dissatisfied and want to scream, "Why?" and "It isn't fair!"
Do not look to this book to heal you, it will wring you dry. I can't wait for the day I will reread this, and pick things apart more. And maybe by then I'll have actually settled on a star rating for this book. For now, I leave that empty. This book is too much for me now.
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Outing, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Murder, Alcohol, and War