Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

5 reviews

minisaucisse's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I hesitated with a 3,75 because my feeling fluctuated throughout the book. I had no idea it was so famous, and I am not shocked that so many people loved it.

At the beginning, I was very curious about the descriptions of agriculture. The relationship to the land and time, the conflictual connection to nature and family. Many called it man bashing when the movie got out, but I am pretty sure than men at that time and in that situation where goddam tyrants. 

The middle was a bit long, but I found the last 300 pages gripping and very telling of the difficulties that can happen in a family that is scared of telling the truth. I liked the narrator and her attention to details and the delicate balances of relationships. I liked that she was a bit passive, somewhat like the lead of persuasion from Jane Austen.

The ending is bitter and heartbreaking to me, but much more interesting than king Lear's. It poses the ultimate questions of adulthood : how can we be adult children ? How to disagree with one's family members ? What roles does our childhood and our roots should play in our adulthood ?

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hkrobock's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

happypilgrim's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

mainly this book just made me mad and frustrated.  1/2 star for being thought provoking (in a dark frustrating way)

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

prettiestwhistles's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging reflective 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

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kristin_h_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings