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teatunesandtales's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
sgrunwald96'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Sexism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Homophobia
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Police brutality, Grief, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
ladydamonayde'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Dysphoria
alisonvh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
drjoannehill'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? It's complicated
4.25
I have a big issue with this very white American viewpoint though. It's been heavily critiqued in multiple waves of feminism since, but this author doesn't pay any attention, and everyone in the book is white, maybe recent European migrants but otherwise it's like there's no race, racial differences, or even any place for people of colour anywhere in the book. There's a MINOR unnamed mention that could be about the civil rights movement. This is very odd in a book that tries to show the problems of pretending everything is ok, ignoring dissent and rebellion. I had no idea if it was just housewives who suffered and later dragoned, nor even if it was worldwide or just in the USA? Once again white middle class America is presented as the whole world. This annoys me and otherwise it would be pushing 5 stars.
Things done well: the dad - an excellent villain, he is spot on. Some definitely quotable bits about the search for knowledge. Libraries as the source of rebellion. Alex's anger is a bit confusing but perhaps accurately portrays a teenage girl unsure of how to deal with what is thrust on her, and her powerlessness, trying to figure out where to direct her blame.
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Lesbophobia
jennswan'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
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
seubecca'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
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Terminal illness, and Fire/Fire injury
klabardee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
bb_11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Another sentiment my bookclub shared: we couldn't wait for the first half of the novel to be over, but then the second half made us miss the first half! The end of book "climax" completely invalidates the main character's development and obliterates the stakes all at once.
Would recommend if you want to challenge yourself to critically deconstruct feminish literature and uncover evidence as to why a novel needs more than women>men to say something powerful.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body horror