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elisabeth888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, and War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Sexual content, Excrement, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
alice_appleby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Excrement, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War
abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
desertdreamsanddarkthemes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
sophtanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
heuteschongekurtet'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Cursing, Eating disorder, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
saraaaa's review against another edition
4.75
I feel like the author went for an explicitly didascalic approach, unambiguously denouncing the horrors of the war through the first person account of the young protagonist's personal experiences and reflections.
The strong accent on the loss of youthful dreams and teenage convictions makes it, in a way, a hybrid between a war novel and a bildungsroman.
The style was poetic at times, especially when reporting the protagonist's considerations, then moving to a kind of matter-of-factly journalistic style when describing the soldiers' routine and daily sufferings.
Last but not least, it's the first – and so far the only – war novel I read that managed to give a realistic account of a teenage boy's perspective on women and sexual attraction without falling into misogyny.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer and Mental illness
Minor: Racial slurs, Excrement, and Alcohol
izzallgood'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Excrement
A really thought-provoking book, with rich, devastating imagery and equally deep and devastating reflection from the protagonist throughout. A deeply human, moving and raw experience. I found myself shocked at how well I was able to relate to these enormous emotions, despite never having experienced anything remotely close to what is described throughout - this is a testament to how authentic and human the writing is. I felt as Paul felt as he felt it. One of the best books I’ve read.livruther's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Excrement, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Torture, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
diddlydoo333's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury