kendra_3's review against another edition
Spoiler
incest, which was described far more vividly than I'm comfortable with
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Incest
ambigreen87's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
slow-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
5.0
elenajohansen's review against another edition
I didn't actually mean to pick up another magical realism book right after being disappointed with All the Crooked Saints, but I gave it an honest try anyway. This work was clearly taking much more time to develop its characters, which I appreciate, but quite early on, pedophilia reared its ugly head, and that's a stumbling block I've had with more than one other, more classic, magical realism novel.
But I kept going for a while anyway because the story wasn't painting pedophilia as normal or its perpetrator as a good person; I know that's a low bar but I've had to DNF books for not clearing it. I'm willing to read a book that explores the effects that kind of relationship has on the victim of it, and that seemed like a strong possibility here. Then, the specter of incest showed up as well--the foreshadowing is incredibly strong that one of the sisters is going to become romantically/sexually involved with her (unknown to her) half-brother, and I'm just not here for it.
But I kept going for a while anyway because the story wasn't painting pedophilia as normal or its perpetrator as a good person; I know that's a low bar but I've had to DNF books for not clearing it. I'm willing to read a book that explores the effects that kind of relationship has on the victim of it, and that seemed like a strong possibility here. Then, the specter of incest showed up as well--the foreshadowing is incredibly strong that one of the sisters is going to become romantically/sexually involved with her (unknown to her) half-brother, and I'm just not here for it.
vivacissimx's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately there is nothing really redeeming about this book. It commits what to me are some of the cardinal sins: it tells but never shows. It is exclusively the story making demands on the characters rather than the other way around. It attempts to reconstruct the love story and fails. And it makes points that you only know it makes because it tells you and never stops telling you.
I don't think any of these characters are particularly compelling or fully fleshed, nor are their relationships ever in any real risk of changing/growing. The prose is beautiful but to what end, honestly?
I don't think any of these characters are particularly compelling or fully fleshed, nor are their relationships ever in any real risk of changing/growing. The prose is beautiful but to what end, honestly?
sitrab's review
It was okay for the first half but I hit a point where it just wasn’t very engaging anymore.
agnessastre's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
karissakate's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sad to say I gave up on this book. I was about 80% through it but I just didn't care and was bored every time I sat down to read. I enjoyed the 'island-appreciation' aspect of this book and getting to know the history and culture of the islands a little better but did not enjoy the story as a whole.
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
I just can't get into a book that presents incest without critique. Perhaps if I had read on, I would have found the critique. I didn't get far enough because I was too creeped out. Too bad. I've heard great things about this book. And the writing was, indeed, spectacular.
islandbooky's review against another edition
Not a fan of the sexual abuse storyline