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jennikreads's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Murder and Alcohol
thatchickengirl23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Alcohol
blewballoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I imagine there must be readers who like the main character Janet, but I did not find her relatable or sympathetic. In some ways she strikes a "not like other girls" chord to the extreme. She's above frivolous things like learning how to clean and sew, she is too busy with poetry and flouncing around her family's estate. She has the drama of Anne of Green Gables but none of the charm. Her single redeeming quality is that she likes animals and doesn't want them to suffer, but this is oddly juxtaposed with a total lack of empathy or understanding of people.
There are many instances of animal cruelty and death that are hard to read, and they contribute to the overall somewhat gross and disturbing tone of the book. The
I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was fine, but any parts where there were poetry or song recitations in the text felt grating to me. I felt myself clenching my teeth when they'd pop in.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and War
readsbymoonlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I can see why this is a beloved classic! Maggie O’Farrell’s introduction was particularly insightful. I love a coming-of-age story, and the Scottish voice and quick, considered pacing made this much more absorbing than previous failed attempts to read similar material, like I Capture The Castle. I do think the pacing was to the books detriment in the last chapter, as the ending felt a bit too sudden for me, but the rest of the book more than makes up for it. Barker’s talent for linguistics makes imagery and description rhythmic, beautiful, technically precise and often deeply moving. The teenage voice feels very careful; not so much authentic as deliberately and cautiously crafted, to great effect. Having also read The Vanishing of Esme Lennox, I do love the similarities; the perhaps unintentional narrative of embracing neurodivergence but simultaneously being cast out and punished for it was strangely modern and insightful. It feels like this could have been written last year.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
feelinwitchy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Genocide, Vomit, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and War