Scan barcode
katewhite77's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This book is quite a commitment in both length and graphic content so won't be for everyone, but if you feel able to commit then it will give you a really good story whilst also teaching you something of the history of the USSR. In particular through the eyes of thè female line of a fictitious Georgian family.
However it really does not shy away from the brutality of life behind the iron curtain and tells a tragic tale in many particularly given the geopolitical situation we find ourselves in at the moment.
Please proceed with exstreame caution if you are struggling with your mental health. I don't know whether I would have started the journey had I been fully armed with the facts before doing so but I was too gripped to stop once I had started. A masterpiece.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and War
sara_n's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, and Police brutality
chia_ie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
the ending was so good. the very few past pages. so, so good. the characters were all so flawed, so human. but i loved them all regardless. it was as if i actually knew them. the stories were surreal, yet gutting to read, because i fear that some of the events that took place are not far from the reality of life back then.
if you have the patience, i would absolutely recommend this book. the one downside is that i didn’t find it to be a book i could relax with. i had to be focused to work out the connections between characters and such. i even ended up drawing family trees to help myself
this book was great. i’ll miss the Jashis.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
eliicapss'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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
quickermorequickly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Torture, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Abortion, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
ssreadsintranslation's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicide and Toxic relationship
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Abortion, and Outing
mscarlettc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug abuse, Abortion, and Death of parent
tabitha_isabelle's review against another edition
1.5
One more thing (that hardly needs saying) a book focusing on a family in the Soviet Union in the 20th century does not need an additional something that brings people misfortune or bad luck - terrible things were happening anyway! The magical hot chocolate was redundant.
On the whole a dissatisfying read.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder