Scan barcode
ac_rva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Vomit, and Antisemitism
stephmcoakley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
jneverland's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
annmierl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
jg34's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Dementia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Certainly some violence and injuries described in some detail. This is about a circus so some animal cruelty should be expectedbookcaptivated's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Terminal illness, Vomit, Dementia, Trafficking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
veronicachp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book has been on my TBR for literally 10 years, and on my bookshelf at home for jist about as long. I honestly assumed I wasn't going to like it and kept putting off reading it, so consider me pleasantly surprised. My main gripes are that a lot of the "gritty" scenes and dialogue feel like they're tossed in there for shock value and not really blended in, and I wish there was a little more emotional development for everyone. The whole novel, including some pretty major character deaths, just reads as kind of stiff, impassive. I would have liked for there to be a little more insight to the characters reacting/processing things and some more focus on the side characters. BUT since it is written from Jacob's perspective and he is not omniscient I can somewhat forgive the whole book being the Jacob and Marlena show. Also TW: If you, like me, struggle with emetophobia, many scenes in this book will make you uncomfortable. Lotta throwing up in this bad boy.
Graphic: Vomit and Death of parent
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse and Murder
planetshelf's review against another edition
- 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
The way Jacob — 90 (or 93) — is written is wonderful. I don’t know exactly what elders think, but I grew up with grandparents as my guardians and I feel an oddly sentimental connection with the more utilitarian thoughts that were written.
I feel this may be worth mentioning: the author uses non-colloquial vocabulary when referring to a body. If that might be uncomfortable for you, you probably should let this one go.
Nonetheless, I liked it and thought it was a fun journey to read.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
cammiem8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Animal abuse is constant in the book, but it is very clearly condemned by the protagonistdianesloftis's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Racial slurs
Biblical