Scan barcode
drannieg's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
Great in places, but hard to sympathise with any of the characters. There were hints that Kath, the protagonist, wasn't nearly as silly or passive as she thinks herself to be, but they were... uncertain and probably the stuff of English degrees. Dated at times, and I did not like the casual use of rape as a term of endearment (repeatedly and across time and countries). But overall enjoyable?
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, and Classism
schopflin's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is an absolutely lovely book - I enjoyed it so much! I have a slight issue with it in that the family portrayed at the centre are the quintessence of 60s and 70s middle class lefties who made up the tiny British cultural establishment in those years. The character of Jake is like a very benign Jonathan Miller. But that's a problem for me, and needn't be one for anyone else.
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Racism
More...