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shrektien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racial slurs
finnsnowbevi's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
joshkiba13's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
This was a unique one for sure in terms of style. No chapters or breaks, just a nearly 400 page monologue-confession. This means we are locked in to Dolores and her personality right away. And it ended with a sfylistic device King uses from time to time with excerpts from fictional articles and journals, which I always like.
I loved Vera Donovan's character and how the book started with Dolores's story of the three ways Vera could be a bitch. Setting her up that way and then having her be such a vital piece in Dolores's life and choices was great.
King does great making us love to hate some characters and just flat out hate others. The development builds over time and eventually gets our stomachs turning and blood boiling. We really start to root for our mama bear protagonist.
It really feels like a person telling a story, since it jumps around time-wise and is filled with rambles, Maine slang, and such. Several of her phrases made me smile while reading.
Some of my favorite parts were the little touches of horror, like Vera's hallucinations of dust bunnies and wires, and Dolores's subsequent nightmares. Perhaps I need to read a true King horror like The Shining . . .
Overall it was an intriguing read that came to surprise me at the end. Stellar character development and a unique style.
". . .the love a natural mother feels for her children [is] the strongest love there is in the world, and it's the deadliest. There's no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids . . . In the end, it's the bitches of the world who abide."
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
trisjt'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Incest, Racial slurs, and Dementia
lydiavsbooks'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really enjoyed the references to Gerald's game and spotting these kind of Easter eggs the more King I read
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
kelseyholler's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
taliatalksbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
kpop_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, and Pedophilia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
jlothian'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
poorlyassembled's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, and Pedophilia