ekmook'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Ableism
sassyshark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Colonisation, Death of parent, Medical content, and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Confinement, Abortion, Body horror, and Miscarriage
andreaeggoy's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Death and Alcoholism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Animal death
freetobme's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Spoiler
Didn’t seem consistent with Fred’s character or prior statements that he and Alice didn’t wait until they were married, especially considering the era.Parts were pretty predictable. Like the annulment.
Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, and Sexual content
bel017's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The setting too, was so well rendered. What an awful time and place. I'm sure the beauty of the place was supposed to shine through, but the dirt and poverty and hardship, and knowing those kinds of things really happened there and still happen all over the world, and that we all benefit from the misery of others, was tough.
Several times I had to skip a page or two to avoid traumatising content
Spoiler
a woman being beaten, a dog being killedBut reading about the friendship and the women's determination was wonderful.
Graphic: Animal death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Sexism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Racism, Xenophobia, Bullying, Confinement, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
fionac326's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, and Sexual content
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
As historical fiction, it felt well researched, whether about the traveling library, the mining operation or just how people were.
I enjoyed the quotes that started each chapter.
Spoiler
One soft complaint is how tidily and pleasantly wrapped up everything was. Happy endings are great, but it was almost too perfect. Though, I suppose our heroines had suffered enough throughout the book to warrant it.Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Animal death