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seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Cursing
kirstieanya's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lucyjxwkes's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Medical content, Trafficking, and Murder
denijaaa_s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
holee's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infertility and Toxic friendship
mergwenthur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sadiaa's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
yannea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a story that deserves 5 stars but it took me three months to actually finish the book. It's a heavy and painful read but it shouldn't come as a surprise when the cover has words like "devastating" and "haunting" written on it.
There were three things that pulled the rating down for me. First of all, I couldn't understand why the main character had to a writer. It depicted a very naive American dream because a 22-years-old immediately getting a book deal that pays all of his bills sounds too far-fetched. Maybe I missed something but I just couldn't see how it played any part in the plot.
Secondly, the "face" of the evil was a blonde, blue-eyed sociopath who worshipped Hitler and wore dark round sunglasses like John Lennon. His description made him a cliché cardboard character. Him being born a sociopath felt such a simple explanation of why someone would support Taliban. It's like someone told you to draw a human shaped monster and this is what you draw. It would be much harder to explain why normal common people do evil things. And normal common people have done a great deal of horrible things.
Lastly, it's written in first person with main character that is not very likeable so sitting so many hours with his regret and insecurity is very difficult. It's a spiral - you think something is bad and then takes place something that is worse. And then it keeps getting worse.
Also if you are triggered by child abuse and explicit violence, then stay away from this book.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
sylmfox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and War
celiagpiserra's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Violence, and War