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aadilh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
neppis's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
amirxhs13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite how absolutely devastating it was.
People often say that the pain Jude went through was “too much” and while I agree it was hard to read through and cope with, I think that declaring someone’s trauma as “too much” is dismissive of real life victims. There are people out there with stories like Jude, or similar to his, who live with those thoughts, feelings and memories daily. By saying what has happened to them too much, and unbelievable, it takes away from what they’ve gone through, and reinforces the idea that they are “too much” and the world would be better off without them. It is this thinking, by Jude, that perpetuates his issues.
The writing was incredibly beautiful, and I do not understand those who said it was slow or boring. It allowed true and deep insight into the minds of all the characters, and they definitely felt real, which makes it all the more devastating. The descriptions of the setting were perfect and incredibly immersive, and I sped through the novel, despite its enormous length.
While this book does not have a clear message or moral, and the authors purpose was simply to write someone who was so incredible broken there was no coming back from it or “fixing” them, I still find a point. This book has ultimately made me a better person. Throughout the novel Jude struggles, and yet, he puts up a brave front consistently in his work life, and as much as he can in his personal life. This book has demonstrated that you truly do not know what ANYONE has gone through, and that everyone should be initially met with kindness, love, and, basic respect. While I, and hopefully anyone reading this, already knew that, I truly feel it in a much deeper sense now.
Nonetheless, I do not think I would recommend this book. As much as I love it, the contents were so incredibly triggering that I cannot, in any good conscience, tell someone to read it without extensive prior knowledge. I went into the book knowing that both Jude and Willem would die. I was aware of the trigger warnings, and knew that I would be fine. This is not the same for everyone.
Finally, I think the ending was perfect and almost ideal. We all knew there was no recovery for Jude, simply existence with Willem. His dependence on Willem, while accepted by Willem, was extreme. There was no chance of Jude leading a happy life without him, and I am pleased with the ending. The only alternative would them both be living happily ever after, and I think that fairytale ending would have been unrealistic and diminishing.
Overall, it was absolutely devastating, and amazing. 5/5.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
Minor: Cancer, Child death, and Car accident
vica_verse'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
estherm26'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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
katielinnn'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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
linzlee'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
fran_____'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: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
iluvshelby's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
slothsandpit's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail