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ottoyvgi's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cydbee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
andrew61's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
This book begins with a terrible act of violence which sends shock waves through a small Hebridean island community. More than 20 years later a young man knocks on the door of his uncles home on the same island. Tommy is troubled and has returned to stay with his uncle and try and understand what happened but the visit unsettles the small community who have to revisit a crime that haunts them but they want to forget.
This is a gentle book despite the horror that hangs over it with the uncle Malcolm being a quiet man who has lost his wife and does not know how to talk to his nephew. The compassion that Malcolm shows and love as he confronts his own childhood and relationship with his father and brother while trying to convince Tommy that he is not like his father is profoundly moving. The book also deals with the effect of secrets that are not kept as another character struggles with Tommy's reappearance. The story slowly reveals itself and I could not put it down until the end when I needed to gather my thoughts. Excellent book and will be one of my books of this year.
This is a gentle book despite the horror that hangs over it with the uncle Malcolm being a quiet man who has lost his wife and does not know how to talk to his nephew. The compassion that Malcolm shows and love as he confronts his own childhood and relationship with his father and brother while trying to convince Tommy that he is not like his father is profoundly moving. The book also deals with the effect of secrets that are not kept as another character struggles with Tommy's reappearance. The story slowly reveals itself and I could not put it down until the end when I needed to gather my thoughts. Excellent book and will be one of my books of this year.
mattstokes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Slow to start but very moving at the end
gabitheaustrian's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.0
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
5.0
Gosh, this is a heartbreaking but excellent book: emotional, tense, terrifying, yet hopeful and reassuring. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book as genre-spanning and emotionally tugging as this was.
Be wary as there are some shocking and very upsetting scenes in this story. It’s not gratuitous but you’ll want to ensure you’re in the right headspace to read it.
The characters felt so real and human. They were frustrating and stubborn at times but so genuine that you can’t help but get invested. Characterizations were strong and very distinct. Even Heather, who was written almost entirely in the past-tense, had a strong sense of character and personality. Litta was a character unto itself - this book had an exceptional sense of place.
I'm going to need some time to fully process this one; I reckon it’ll be on my mind for a while!
Be wary as there are some shocking and very upsetting scenes in this story. It’s not gratuitous but you’ll want to ensure you’re in the right headspace to read it.
The characters felt so real and human. They were frustrating and stubborn at times but so genuine that you can’t help but get invested. Characterizations were strong and very distinct. Even Heather, who was written almost entirely in the past-tense, had a strong sense of character and personality. Litta was a character unto itself - this book had an exceptional sense of place.
I'm going to need some time to fully process this one; I reckon it’ll be on my mind for a while!
pinkvogue's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
inga_janina's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
malinuknow's review against another edition
4.0
Den här boken var fängslande. Jag gillade speciellt dialogen mellan karaktärerna och hur äkta allt kändes. Den är dock väldigt mörk och hemsk.
Väntade på en tydlig uppgörelse eller en plot twist i slutet men känner inte att jag fick det på det sättet jag förväntade mig. Vet inte om det känns bra eller dåligt. Lite snopet kanske. Men boken var fortfarande väldigt djup.
Väntade på en tydlig uppgörelse eller en plot twist i slutet men känner inte att jag fick det på det sättet jag förväntade mig. Vet inte om det känns bra eller dåligt. Lite snopet kanske. Men boken var fortfarande väldigt djup.
woolfy_vita's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0