Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel

5 reviews

maddie_can_read's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I really love Mandel's writing style. Her writing/ storytelling style is very unique and is definitely not for everyone. 

I've been reading her books out of publishing order and did not realize this was her second published book. It's interesting to see themes come up that she goes on to explore more in later works

like ghosts, hotels, shipping industry, music

. Also the interwoven storytelling is much simpler in this book and I found it a much easier and more straightforward read. 

One of the reasons I always enjoy the author's writing is how  she centers Canada and Canadian characters and locations in her writing. 

the one thing I kept thinking about was having a character from the far North of Canada but then like not committing to making them indigenous? I know there's lots of debate about writing characters of different backgrounds and the ethics of it but it seemed strange . Maybe the author wasn't sure about handling themes of indigeneity but I felt di appointed when I realized the character wasn't indigenous. Also while in real life a lot of social workers and nurses go up north to work they generally don't stay and raise their children there if they're not from there

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

hmatt's review

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

What I find with this author's earlier works is that, even when I don't absolutely adore the plot, the writing is still very solid and satisfying. As it turns out, I liked the plot of this more than some of her other early works. There is a signature moodiness that comes out in the writing. 

I also thought it was very interesting to see themes developing in this book that the author later explores more (i.e. the shipping industry and the glass hotel!!).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Death, Murder, Pregnancy, and Deportation

kommatator's review against another edition

dark

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

quickermorequickly's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A very fun read that kept me on the edge of my seat. As usual with St. John Mandel, there are no angels in this book. Funnily enough it has many of the themes I'm most interested in:

legality/illegality, immigration, undocumented immigrants, family ties

. And like Ferrante, an unpleasant stay

on Ischia

.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Sexual content, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Deportation

Minor: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

daniellemjoyce's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Trafficking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Deportation