Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

41 reviews

kat_rowlen's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A really entertaining and fun read that sheds some light on the darker aspects of circus life. The ending of this book is really sweet and honestly had me holding back tears. The pacing of the book was a little off in some spots or it would’ve been a higher rating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Classism

kes7706's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Antisemitism, and Pregnancy

smithalexis035's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I didn’t understand the hype around this book at all. I could not wait to finish it and it took me so long! The descriptions of animal abuse really bothered me and there were some really strange sexual things mentioned. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Violence, and Death of parent

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

nellzzzz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Sexual assault, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Alcohol

rubyslippers96's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

Moderate: Ableism, Racial slurs, and Death of parent

stephmcoakley's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

bmpicc's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-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

5.0

The prologue was incredible and I was sucked in from the very beginning. The characters, the train, the circus itself. Gruen didn't just tell me a story. She wrote in a way that allowed me to visualize everything. No spoilers, but I do have to say this. I love Rosie.

Side note: I am finding that I greatly appreciate well-written animals as main characters.

"Nothing happens to me anymore. That's the reality of getting old, and I guess that's really the crux of the matter. I'm not ready to be old yet." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

jneverland's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

annmierl's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Sexual harassment