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chireadsandchill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Child death, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Cancer, and Death
Minor: Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Incest
bellaroseh's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Picoult finds a way to turn real world issues into fictional stories that you want to read and yet find yourself learning so much from. The unconventional writing style takes a bit of getting used to but is overall really well done.
It's sad that since this book was published, women's rights have further been challenged in America. Comments in the book like "as long as Roe v Wade stands..." are a reminder of how times have changed in the short time since 2018.
I think Picoult effectively considers multiple arguments and points of view from the controversial pro-life / pro-choice movements. She also addresses intertwined issues such as race, poverty and gun violence. Picoult writes based on research, making you consider the issues facing society in America and globally.
The book is quite slow paced which I at times found difficult to engage with. That being said, the differing perspectives of individually explored characters helped guide the story. I enjoyed how the final two paragraphs brought together some of the characters, giving them a wider context; as well as providing a conclusion to the overriding plot - which was beginning to feel neglected in latter chapters.
It's sad that since this book was published, women's rights have further been challenged in America. Comments in the book like "as long as Roe v Wade stands..." are a reminder of how times have changed in the short time since 2018.
I think Picoult effectively considers multiple arguments and points of view from the controversial pro-life / pro-choice movements. She also addresses intertwined issues such as race, poverty and gun violence. Picoult writes based on research, making you consider the issues facing society in America and globally.
The book is quite slow paced which I at times found difficult to engage with. That being said, the differing perspectives of individually explored characters helped guide the story. I enjoyed how the final two paragraphs brought together some of the characters, giving them a wider context; as well as providing a conclusion to the overriding plot - which was beginning to feel neglected in latter chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Mass/school shootings, and Rape
Moderate: Blood and Vomit
Minor: Cancer and Miscarriage
fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was emotionally hard to read. The writer again scores a home run with the omniscient narrator. It was an especially important topic to get that 360° perspective of every single character.
Initially, the backward timeline felt novel and even natural to the storyline, but the further back we went in the day, the more entirely fatiguing I found the book. But this was the only way to understand why and how we got to where the book had started. There’s also a bit of a twist that changes how I see three of the characters.
Appreciate the author’s note at the end too.
Initially, the backward timeline felt novel and even natural to the storyline, but the further back we went in the day, the more entirely fatiguing I found the book. But this was the only way to understand why and how we got to where the book had started. There’s also a bit of a twist that changes how I see three of the characters.
Appreciate the author’s note at the end too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Gun violence, and Child death
Moderate: Rape
sophiegs's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, and Murder
maddiela's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Child death
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape
kjkbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Thoughts:
This book is on what cannot be argued isn't an extremely controversial topic, now so even more than when it was wrote, but manages to give both sides of the debate in rationalised explanations as well as the emotive words and attacks used by those arging.
Going back in time was a new experience for me and made it feel a little weird knowing someone was going to die when reading about them waking up. But then again isn't that kind of the point, no one knows what events have led up to someone ending up in a center like that but judgements are often made nonetheless.
<Spoiler>I personally think it was also poignant that many in the center at the time were not there for an abortion but for the other services the centre provide as it can be easy to forget those kinds of centers also support other reproductive health issues such as gyno exams and birth control. </Spoiler>
Favourite Quote:
"We are all drowning slowly in the tide of our opinions, oblivious that we are taking on water every time we open our mouths."
This book is on what cannot be argued isn't an extremely controversial topic, now so even more than when it was wrote, but manages to give both sides of the debate in rationalised explanations as well as the emotive words and attacks used by those arging.
Going back in time was a new experience for me and made it feel a little weird knowing someone was going to die when reading about them waking up. But then again isn't that kind of the point, no one knows what events have led up to someone ending up in a center like that but judgements are often made nonetheless.
<Spoiler>I personally think it was also poignant that many in the center at the time were not there for an abortion but for the other services the centre provide as it can be easy to forget those kinds of centers also support other reproductive health issues such as gyno exams and birth control. </Spoiler>
Favourite Quote:
"We are all drowning slowly in the tide of our opinions, oblivious that we are taking on water every time we open our mouths."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Rape, and Abortion
mariele's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Abortion
mayacha411's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Abortion, and Gun violence
erebus53's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Want to clear up a divisive issue? Throw all the parties into the crucible of a hostage situation, and let them simmer. (Chapter 5, time - 45:16)
This book is a dramatization of a concept. I have seldom heard an audiobook that has a self-descriptive soundbite as part of the narrative, but this one hits the nail on the head. This deeply informative book, seeks to present the idea of abortion in the USA - pros and cons, warts and all.
It does this by telling the story of a clinic where a gunman turns up. Through the course of the story we find ourselves in an intricate web of backstories, origin stories, and personal experiences of all the people who are in the center at the time, and a few others who are not.
The author clearly wants us to invest in the characters. She illustrates real things that happens to real people and has spent time investigating the science, the feelings, and the Faith of those people who are deeply invested in the topic. She expresses the frustration and sadness of anti-abortionist, and the frustration and sadness of the abortion providers, as well as lawyers, cops, a kid who was stuck bouncing through foster homes, and the women affected by closure of and aggression against women's health centres. Not everyone in this story is visiting the centre for a pregnancy termination.
I didn't expect this story to be so entertaining. I must admit to being a little concerned as to the tack it was going to take because it delivered many sides of the issues with respect and clarity, and I was just waiting for the shoe to drop and for the author to fall heavily on one side. I think she did eventually land lightly but firmly on the pro-choice side.
I did get a little tangled in trying to understand what was happening at times, before I got used to the spiderweb structure of the story, frequently backtracking into prior events and historical anecdotes to fill in blanks from perspectives of all the different characters. It was an interesting way to tell the story and I can't believe that I still managed to get lulled into a few misconceptions that were revealed at the the end. The twists were a good payoff for me, though would possibly be a bit predictable for other readers.
There is an expansive author's note, in the author's voice on the end of the production, where she mentions her research and sources and provides a little more context. It's not for the faint of heart, but is pretty thorough and would be a good club book, class topic for high school seniors, or conversation starter for families. I have had some good discussions with my pre-teen son about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexism, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Murder, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Confinement, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Sexual content, Misogyny, Infertility, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Gore, Death, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Incest, and Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction, Vomit, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Classism, Bullying, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Grief, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
waybeyondblue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death, Gun violence, Confinement, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Blood, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Minor: Incest and Rape