sfx_naike's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Drug use, Stalking, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, and Alcoholism
danah_kmt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage
burnyayhayley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This story is so odd, but I have to admit that the character of Holly is fascinating— in the way that compulsive liars who are friends with everyone are often fascinating.
I found the reveals to be quite effective, I was taken aback several times, which I should credit to the pace and tone of the book being so light and airy that when something surprising happens it falls like a ton of bricks. There is clearly skill in the writing, but for the first third of the book at least, I really was questioning why this was a beloved classic.
And why is it that SO MANY AUTHORS write from the perspective of a useless male narrator who doesn't even get a story that has any closure? What is the attraction to that perspective?
Anyway, it was okay, and I do like it when classics are weirder than I expect.
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and War
sillyduckie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Grief, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Fatphobia, Blood, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Homophobia, War, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse