Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

18 reviews

paulabekkerus's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

kdenten's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

awestervelt20's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Friends, it feels SO GOOD to be back and reading. And what a title to kick off my post-term reading with.

THE PAPER PALACE is sneaky -- I see the Cape and I think immediately 'beach read,' but what Heller has crafted instead is a layered (heavier) story of time and regret and love and longing. I am not as interested in literature that claims a moral high ground as I am in narratives that allow the characters to just 'be,' and I think Heller captures so well the reason why: trauma complicates absolutes, what is 'right' and 'wrong' blurred in response to abuse. I just want to give Elle a hug.

Heller also beautifully depicts Cape Cod as a vessel for memory. She said in a recent interview that "every time [she comes] back, it feels like the opposite of homesickness," and goodness, I can relate. It's a testament to her writing that the setting -- this 'Paper Palace' -- feels like another character.

One I'm happy to own. If you grab it too, please note a significant content warning for rape and pedophilia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Excrement

notionsofdragonsfire's review

dark emotional slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

emilybillings's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.75

A gut wrenching, complicated, hopeful, heartbreaking love story and reflection on the tensions between love and morality, the affects of abuse, and complex family dynamics. The pace and nonlinear structure gave reflection on the impact of certain life experiences. At first, I wondered how the storyline could fill so many pages but by the last 100 pages I was longing for more in the best way!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: Death of parent

anniesbookpicks's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer and Infidelity

vanessanalmeida's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment