Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Zugvögel by Charlotte McConaghy

8 reviews

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad slow-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

5.0

This beautiful and sad odyssey of one woman's journey as she follows the last migration of the Arctic Turns in a world facing the disastrous effects of climate change and greed is a must read. Franny is a bird lover but, birds are basically extinct due to global warming and the government's lack of concern with hunting and overfishing. She is on a mission to follow the last of the Arctic Terns, a bird that migrates from pole to pole. She joins a ragtag crew on their fishing boat with promises of a catch they have long searched for. As Franny and the crew journey with the birds, the reader journeys through Frannys childhood, her married life, and what led her to hop on a boat and follow the terns. This novel is a beautifully written picture of the risks of global warming framing one of the most gut wrenching side romances i've ever read. Franny is a complicated and fearless free spirit who works to fulfill her dreams at any cost. She's strong, determined, a tad delusional, and a fantastic character. Niall, her husband, is a dreamboat. No spoilers obviously, but that man is a catch and almost every time he spoke I was practically swooning! In addition, all of the side characters are amazingly complex as well! Even Nialls mom, who has like maybe two chapters? From Ennis, the gambling captain to Lèa the French engineer, the entire crew has a complicated backstory, development, and dialogue. Its amazing that this whole book is less than 300 pages. It packs a punch! I wish I could read this again for the first time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

brookebatesratesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

flowchelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

kates_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

While I didn’t love this as much as ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES, it was a very interesting book with lots of genre bending elements. Again, the authors commentary of the environment and conservation were my favorite. 

The characters were so unique and original, while still being realistic. The tension between Franny and the fisherman was beautifully written — as she actually gets to know these characters, her once firm convictions become less black and white. I think the author  captured the complexities and nuances of humanity. No one is all good or all evil; we are all just trying to get through it and find some beauty along the way.  

Franny’s life is full of trauma and most of the book immerses the reader in her depression. Yet the story ends with hope, which I believe is what the authors wants us to take away. The world can be cruel and we need to be help accountable for the harm we have caused it, but we must not lose hope for if we do we won’t work towards making it better. 

The non-linear timeline of the novel was interesting and made it feel more mysterious. However, the revelation was a bit anticlimactic. 

Overall, the story made you feel the darkness but it was a thought-provoking and tender read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

kelleywithanextrae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

amandaformby's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

madelynfrank's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Unreliable narrator, twists. Gone-girl era vibes made it a page turner although ultimately none of the many twists were too shocking. The near future mass extinction setting was ominous. Very atmospheric and adventurous. Interesting and diverse characters attempted, many of the secondary characters were left disappointingly underdeveloped. Some of the prose was really wonderful. Read tag warnings cuz omigod. Also the dog dies. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

babblingbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So sad and hopeful and heart breaking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer

The sexual assault tag is for an attempted sexual assault, and there is some victim blaming by other characters towards the protagonist. In addition to the Suicidal Thoughts tag there is an attempted suicide which is described in some detail. The cancer mention is VERY brief, a side character explains why she shaved her hair, to fundraise for a cancer charity.