Scan barcode
melina_30's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
Moderate: Death and Classism
Minor: War
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"More than that was the unshakeable thought that Dulcie had seen me in a way entirely unorejudiced by familiarity, history or expectation. That is, she had taken me as she found me, and not only that, but had seen fit to treat me as someone worth bothering with - not quite an equal, for it was clear that she was a wise, worldly and original person and I was none of these. Yet on our brief time together I had begun to feel as if I was becoming someone else. I was approaching being myself, rather than the person I had been living as. Dulcie had seen me as I was, and had not been bored or uninterested."
This an evocative tale of a teenage boy in post-WWII Northern England. Robert leaves his County Durham pit village to seek summer adventure before settling for working in the coal mine with his dad. He experiences beautiful County Durham and North Yorkshire countryside before stumbling across elderly and eccentric Dulcie and her dog Butler in a cottage near Whitby.
With beautifully flowing descriptions of the flora, fauna, landscape and climate he encounters, the languid pace fits the short time frame and the stifling summer weather. Robert and Dulcie's blossoming friendship, borne of helping one another out (Robert with chores, fixing things and Dulcie with extravagent food during rationing) is tender and the most beautiful part of the novel. I shed a tear learning Dulcie's past tragedy and at the end. Reminding me of novels by Sarah Moss and Patrick Gale, this is lyrical, emotional and descriptive, historical fiction, showing friendship can be found in unexpected places.
Recommended to me by Kasia @swim_out_to_it when we visited The Bound bookshop in Whitley Bay.
This an evocative tale of a teenage boy in post-WWII Northern England. Robert leaves his County Durham pit village to seek summer adventure before settling for working in the coal mine with his dad. He experiences beautiful County Durham and North Yorkshire countryside before stumbling across elderly and eccentric Dulcie and her dog Butler in a cottage near Whitby.
With beautifully flowing descriptions of the flora, fauna, landscape and climate he encounters, the languid pace fits the short time frame and the stifling summer weather. Robert and Dulcie's blossoming friendship, borne of helping one another out (Robert with chores, fixing things and Dulcie with extravagent food during rationing) is tender and the most beautiful part of the novel. I shed a tear learning Dulcie's past tragedy and at the end. Reminding me of novels by Sarah Moss and Patrick Gale, this is lyrical, emotional and descriptive, historical fiction, showing friendship can be found in unexpected places.
Recommended to me by Kasia @swim_out_to_it when we visited The Bound bookshop in Whitley Bay.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, and War
karpatenhund's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Suicide and War
jolineliest's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Excrement, and Lesbophobia
linguaphile412's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Death, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
sketchydelusion's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Terminal illness and War
naiu_cs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is one if those books where I genuinely feel like my view on life is just a little brighter, a little more colorful and a little better after having read it.
The relationship that the two main characters have is everything I want in life.
And the poetic way the novel was written speaks to me in every way.
I genuinely love this book.
The relationship that the two main characters have is everything I want in life.
And the poetic way the novel was written speaks to me in every way.
I genuinely love this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Suicide, and War
damlo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and War
kathrinellis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Eine sehr rührende Geschichte u. a. über die Freundschaft eines abenteuerlustigen 16-Jährigen mit einer älteren Frau im England der Nachkriegszeit. Die Übersetzung ist dem wunderschönen Schreibstil gerecht geworden, die enthaltenen lyrischen Elemente haben mich auch überzeugt. Besonders faszinierend fand ich die Thematisierung gleichgeschlechtlicher Liebe zu dieser Zeit und die Tatsache, dass es die Poetin mit diesem Lebenslauf und Schicksal wirklich gegeben hat. Insgesamt sehr fesselnd, wundervoll gestaltet und mit vielen inspirierenden Sätzen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: War
ncornelius's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and War
More...