Scan barcode
rhiandroid_'s review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
readingtomydogs's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
The World Cannot Give is a dark campus novel, where the main characters struggle with what it means to have devotion. The protagonist Laura is drawn to the boarding school in rural Maine for its historical significance, but soon encounters a group of choir students and their cult-like devotion to their leader Virginia. Laura struggles throughout the book with her identity and her place in the world. There is suspense in the second half of the book, with an ending that is surprising, but where the book has been leading all along.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tara Burton's writing, and never felt like the storyline was predictable.
As a former boarding school student myself, I can relate to the isolation such living can give you, and how it can make you susceptible to group-think and others' influence.
I would recommend this to any lovers of Donna Tartt's "The Secret History," Curtis Sittenfeld's "Prep," or the classic campus novel, John Knowles' "A Separate Peace."
I thoroughly enjoyed Tara Burton's writing, and never felt like the storyline was predictable.
As a former boarding school student myself, I can relate to the isolation such living can give you, and how it can make you susceptible to group-think and others' influence.
I would recommend this to any lovers of Donna Tartt's "The Secret History," Curtis Sittenfeld's "Prep," or the classic campus novel, John Knowles' "A Separate Peace."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicide, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol
lain_darko's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Blood, and Acephobia/Arophobia
gothbaby's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
When it comes to dark academia, The World Cannot Give is an excellent example of the obsessive nature of teens who want nothing more than to be a part of something great. Obsession turns to toxicity turns to the spilling of secrets that once kept an entire group of teens at a girl's beck and call.
I was just as obsessed with this book as the characters were, and I found the religious focus quite interesting as it provided a very real guide into Laura's ultimate devotion to Virginia. The author did a superb job keeping the plot almost hidden until about 70% of the way in where I questioned the direction the book was about to go.
I did find the beginning--and most of the dialogue--to be quite repetitive, but upon finishing the book I wonder if it was intentional all along: Virginia's rhetoric had to be repeated over and over until Laura, and the boys, believed in it, too. In a way I believe the reader is a part of Virginia's inner circle, slowly being indoctrinated until the end.
I was pleasantly surprised by The World Cannot Give and wish I could have read about Laura and Virginia's relationship until I began to question my own reliability as a reader.
Thank you Simon & Schuster, Tara Isabella Burton, and NetGalley for allowing me access this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I was just as obsessed with this book as the characters were, and I found the religious focus quite interesting as it provided a very real guide into Laura's ultimate devotion to Virginia. The author did a superb job keeping the plot almost hidden until about 70% of the way in where I questioned the direction the book was about to go.
I did find the beginning--and most of the dialogue--to be quite repetitive, but upon finishing the book I wonder if it was intentional all along: Virginia's rhetoric had to be repeated over and over until Laura, and the boys, believed in it, too. In a way I believe the reader is a part of Virginia's inner circle, slowly being indoctrinated until the end.
I was pleasantly surprised by The World Cannot Give and wish I could have read about Laura and Virginia's relationship until I began to question my own reliability as a reader.
Thank you Simon & Schuster, Tara Isabella Burton, and NetGalley for allowing me access this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Eating disorder
breeburkitt's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
"The World Cannot Give" is a beautiful, immersive read. It so perfectly captures the infatuation, toxicity and eccentricities of adolescence. It's "The Secret History" meets "Catcher in the Rye" with a little "Looking for Alaska" and "Heathers" thrown in.
Author Tara Isabella Burton does a fantastic job at ensnaring the reader in the New England boarding school, St. Dunstan's right along with Laura Stearns. Laura comes to the school in search of a life worth living, following the steps of alumni Sebastian Oliver, who authored her favorite book. She soon finds a spot in the school's church choir and within the snare of its leader, Virginia Strauss. Laura is a passive witness caught in the whiplash of Virginia's descent. It's a captivating story of obsession — from multiple parties — that takes a dark turn about halfway through the book that I never anticipated. The ending itself is unexpectedly dark, and yet so beautifully fitting.
As always, thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review.
4.25/5
Author Tara Isabella Burton does a fantastic job at ensnaring the reader in the New England boarding school, St. Dunstan's right along with Laura Stearns. Laura comes to the school in search of a life worth living, following the steps of alumni Sebastian Oliver, who authored her favorite book. She soon finds a spot in the school's church choir and within the snare of its leader, Virginia Strauss. Laura is a passive witness caught in the whiplash of Virginia's descent. It's a captivating story of obsession — from multiple parties — that takes a dark turn about halfway through the book that I never anticipated. The ending itself is unexpectedly dark, and yet so beautifully fitting.
As always, thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review.
4.25/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Vomit