niranjana_25's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Police brutality, Incest, and Pedophilia
dowsa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“this was the stuff their dreams were made of. on the day that Estha was Returned. Chalk. Blackboards. Proper Punishments.
they didn’t ask to let off lightly. they only asked for punishments that fitted their crimes. not ones that came like cupboards with built-in bedrooms. not ones you spent your whole life in, wandering through its maze of shelves” 😞
this was a very challenging read…like
literally darksided. i enjoyed the non linear narrative because in this case, it added to the confusion and blurriness that comes from retelling your childhood memories as an adult. can’t say i liked any of the characters but i don’t think we were meant to
they didn’t ask to let off lightly. they only asked for punishments that fitted their crimes. not ones that came like cupboards with built-in bedrooms. not ones you spent your whole life in, wandering through its maze of shelves” 😞
this was a very challenging read…like
literally darksided. i enjoyed the non linear narrative because in this case, it added to the confusion and blurriness that comes from retelling your childhood memories as an adult. can’t say i liked any of the characters but i don’t think we were meant to
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
margot_eliza's review against another edition
Couldn’t get into the book with the writing style - found it too hard to follow and felt like nothing had happened half way through
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Incest
ile94's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Child death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Incest
amehlia's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Pedophilia, Death, Violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Incest
nicolelovesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
What I will say: the writing itself— the prose and poetic lyrical quality of it— was beautiful, and even cheeky at times.
But the story was hard to follow and quite frankly, horrible. I’m not going to say I regret listening to this (it was for book club obviously), but I’m certainly glad I went with the abridged version.
But the story was hard to follow and quite frankly, horrible. I’m not going to say I regret listening to this (it was for book club obviously), but I’m certainly glad I went with the abridged version.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Incest, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Classism
atthehuskinbee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Rape, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Incest
_claireb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Single-handedly the most beautiful book I ever had, and ever will read. Devastated I will never be able to read anything that measures up to it. Envious of anyone able to read it for the first time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Incest
sabs98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was a heart-wrenching story of pain, loss, and lifelong trauma. My heart breaks for Estha most of all, but for Rahel and Velutha, as well. Though there were many different avenues for pain to enter the lives of the two-egg twins, the way I see it, growing up in a house with a woman full of poisonous resentment and self-preservation to no end was the biggest factor of their suffering. I wanted to punch Baby Kochamma in the face multiple times throughout the story. For me, this book (perfectly) captures the silenced fury, the poignant heartbreak, the helplessness that can only be evoked by prejudiced systems designed keep certain, good-hearted, average people fearful and small, and to keep other fearful yet dangerously arrogant people powerful and important.
Although it was annoying at times to me, Roy's style of narration is very unique and intentional, and in the last 50 or so pages of the book the purpose of narrating in certain ways became clear to me. I would love to read this book again to understand better Roy's literary artistry (only after I've recovered from this heartbreak).
Although it was annoying at times to me, Roy's style of narration is very unique and intentional, and in the last 50 or so pages of the book the purpose of narrating in certain ways became clear to me. I would love to read this book again to understand better Roy's literary artistry (only after I've recovered from this heartbreak).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Incest
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.75
This book has so much to unpack. the writing? delicious. the plot? nuanced and complex. the characters? rich with history and personality. I need to reread this asap because there's just so much to analyze.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child death, Pedophilia, and Violence
Moderate: Incest, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Racism