Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - The Eighth Life

This book made me feel a lot of things, including hatred for Kostia (fuuuck u man), love for Qristine, frustration at every single character and so much more. A book from home, about home, describing things that happened to families I know. Truly heartbreaking and beautiful and maddening. 5/5

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katewhite77's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

This is an amazing book, but not for everyone.

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.

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esther_me's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective 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? Yes

4.0

Liked the book and the story, but I thought the historical context took too Munch Space in the story sometimes. But an interessant and delightfull read.

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chia_ie's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

this book took me almost 2 months to read. but it was so worth it. i have this feeling of like … what do i do now?

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.

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atiaijaz's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A

5.0

What a story! What a gift of storytelling! There was not one single page I was bored or asked myself if reading the whole thing was worth it. I want a 3 season tv-series made from this so that I can laugh, cry, mourn and love again with Brilka's family.

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