Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

40 reviews

sallythereadinggirl's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Ein Buch mit einem sehr interessanten Konzept!

Die Buchbinderin Ashlyn stößt auf zwei einzigartige Bücher. Das zweite scheint als Antwort auf das erste geschrieben worden zu sein und beide erzählen die selbe Geschichte. Belle und Hemi führen uns in ihrem jeweiligen Buch durch die Ereignisse im Jahr 1941 und beschreiben, wie sich ihre Liebe aus ihrer Sicht zugetragen hat. Die Echos beider Bücher, die Ashlyn beim Berühren der Werke fühlt sind beide von Kummer, Schmerz und Verrat geprägt. Kann sie durch die Bücher herausfinden, was sich wirklich zwischen den beiden Liebenden zugetragen hat?

Die Idee der beiden Bücher, bei denen das eine als Antwort auf das zweite geschrieben wurde und die sich gegenseitig ansprechen fand ich wirklich klasse! Man konnte direkt im Vergleich sehen, wie die andere Person die Geschehnisse empfunden hat und wie es sich aus ihrer Perspektive zugetragen hat. 
Die Fähigkeit Ashlyns, die Echos der Bücher, also die Gefühle der Vorbesitzer, oder in diesem Fall der Verfassenden, zu fühlen, war eher nur am Rande ein Thema, auch wenn es ihr Interesse an den Büchern erklärte. 
Neben der schönen und fesselnden Liebesgeschichte hat mir das Buch noch einige Facetten des Amerikas in den 40gern gezeigt. So wurden beispielsweise Antisemitismus und die Rolle der Frau thematisiert. Auch wenn die Frauenrolle in der hier gezeigten Oberschicht keineswegs repräsentativ für die meisten Frauen der damaligen Zeit ist, so konnten doch einige Ungerechtigkeiten gezeigt werden. 
Der Schreibstil war sehr flüssig und ich habe das Buch geradezu verschlungen. 
"Das Echo vergessener Bücher" ist ein empfehelnswerter Roman, der auf geschichte Weise zwischen zwei Zeiten und mehreren Perspektiven hin und her springt, und uns zeigt, dass unsere Sicht auf die Dinge nicht die einzige, und schon gar nicht unbefangen ist. 


Danke an den Piper-Verlag und Netgalley für das Bereistellen eines Rezensionsexemplares im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Emotional abuse and War

bookgirlieee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

An interesting and enjoyable read! 

I found the development of Ashlyn’s relationship a bit quick but liked it. 

Overall a great story and interesting development. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Minor: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

miguelito_juanito's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

Minor: Genocide and Terminal illness

megan_mac_'s review against another edition

slow-paced

3.75

Liked the premise and creativity of how the story was told - but wasn't convinced on the love story part and how the betrayal was revealed. So it was almost there for me, but slightly missed the mark

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

nikkicthebookworm's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed reading this book. The time jumps between the past and the future really kept me engaged. The only thing I have to complain about it I feel like it was a little longer than it needed to be. There were a few filler chapters I thought could have either been combined or done away with completely. So I gave it 4 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, and Classism

guessgreenleaf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death

infusionofviolets's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and War

Minor: Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

bookscatcoffee's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.0

This was fine.  It’s telling that a book supposedly about books did not interest me or most of my book club buddies.  The magical realism element felt added for appeal and was unnecessary.  The characters were not really complex, and some of the “surprises” were either expected or out of character.  Writing was ok.  Not memorable but not entirely objectionable.  3 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Suicide, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: War

fseely's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Antisemitism, and Car accident

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

emilyhooie22's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

The title drew me in but the story kept me reading and crying as well. I listened to this audiobook while working out or cleaning or relaxing. But I'll never forget walking around the neighborhood crying as Ashlyn, Ethan, Belle, and Hemi, and all the wonderful characters found answers for long awaited questions. Each character background broke my heart, but in the end all their heartaches were worth what they found to love in the end. 😭💕

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent