Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Boys Don't Cry, by Fíona Scarlett

5 reviews

lotties_booked's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual harassment and Gun violence

roemfr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Violence, Death, Cursing, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

aquaria127's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Medical content, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Violence

travelseatsreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Boys Don't Cry is the stunning debut novel from Fiona Scarlett. It tells the story of Joe and Finn, two young brothers living in the flats in inner city Dublin and follows their struggles as they learn to live with a father who is heavily involved in the local crime gang, a mother who is trying to hold it all together and a shocking cancer diagnosis that has devastating effects.

This heartbreakingly beautiful and tender story is told with alternating chapters from each of the boys perspectives. This was so affective as it allows the reader to see the varied themes (poverty, crime, domestic violence, cancer & grief) through each of the boys eyes.

The writing is tender yet captivating. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down and had to finish it in one sitting. Fiona beautifully portrays the unbreakable bond between Joe and Finn and just how besotted they are with each other.

I also really enjoyed the female characters within this book, each one appeared to be trying to cope with the hand they had been dealt and made often hard choices to try to better themselves and those around them.

This is a gorgeous story, brimming with equal amounts of love and sorrow that will stay with me for a long time to come. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence

helendipietro's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

A fantastic debut novel from Fiona Scarlett – a full-time primary school teacher from Dublin - that had me captivated the entire time. This is definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year because it had me sobbing which just shows how powerful the writing is. I absolutely loved how the narrative was told from two perspectives throughout - Finn (12) and Joe (17) - two brothers living in Dublin navigating their difficult lives with family, society and health pressures. Scarlett’s writing style is beautiful; she conveys such depth and emotion even when writing as a young child. The story is raw, honest and authentic to the bone. Although it broke my heart, it also had me laughing and feeling full of love and warmth.

 

‘Boys Don’t Cry’ is such a special book and one that will stay with me for years to come. Although only a short story at 238 pages, so much is packed in there and the pace moves the story on well; at times it feels like a thriller! 100% recommend this book :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Violence