roamreadretinolrepeat's review
3.0
I struggled to finish this. Perhaps because I listened to the audio version? But I found the plot to be ridden with misery, with very few bright spots. The misery seemed to be the celebrated part of this book. I would have liked to have heard more from Marissa & Tive; the book really centers on Amadeo, Yolanda & Angel, so the 5 Wounds title was lost on me from the beginning. Overall I found it disappointing.
jcrump's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty challenging book for me, honestly. Every time something was going well I found myself growing anxious cause I knew someone would mess up. Quade’s prose is sooo easy to read and the dynamics between her characters in this book are so interesting and realistic. The description of Amadeo’s feelings before he drinks are so simple and powerful. Yolanda’s story is as tragic as anything I’ve read recently. This book also forces our attention towards teen pregnancies in all their messiness, complexity, misfortune, and beauty. This book made me think about redemption as a concrete, unremarkable, slow, painful, dirty process and not as a theological abstraction. I teared up many times, I have complaints but I don’t see the point of writing them out here (aside from more Briana. Like??? A concluding chapter from her???). I’m so glad Jesus came to save those who need saving.
essay23's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anuaggarwal's review against another edition
4.0
bad idea to read such an immersive book a few days before my MCAT but alas the wonders of reading
annahelle's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
this is such a solid book! really glad i read it. the author did an amazing job at expressing the characters’ thoughts, insecurities, flaws, behaviors, etc. she was really good at describing facial expressions and body language too. just a great job exploring the interior lives of this family. i really felt like i knew the characters and their thought processes. great character development. definitely a character > plot narrative, but the story was still entertaining and devastating and emotional too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Dementia, Death of parent, Cancer, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Moderate: Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Sexism, and Self harm
Minor: Blood, Incest, Lesbophobia, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Car accident, and Child death
marmarlad's review
5.0
This is one of the best novels I’ve read in the past several years. I would not usually be into a slow unfolding of a family drama that involves a deadbeat dad and a pregnant teenager, but The Five Wounds transcends all the narratives that have made stereotypes out of such characters. It is tender and beautifully written and I cried twice. Little details from it keep returning to my mind, a week after finishing it. I’m in awe of the human compassion and keen observation it took to write such a book.
lifelivedwildly's review
The audiobook kept skipping around, so I was confused. Once I realized I was already knee deep in a few other books. I'll come back to this one when I have a chance, was intrigued by what I did listen to.
krissy_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0