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fkshg8465's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I saw the movie years ago and remember it differently than the book. So some of the content was surprising to me. I’m undecided on how I feel about these differences.i think I liked the movie better than the book because the movie was more dramatic and had actual resolution. The book is satisfying in a different way, and in some ways, more realistic in that when people die, the rest of us still need to find a way to keep living.
I thought the writing was strong, but I’m conflicted on the story.
I thought the writing was strong, but I’m conflicted on the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
samuraipie's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
An emotionally challenging read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Kidnapping
lauraginger's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Grief
likethe309's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I went from thinking it was an okay enough book to hating it with one single chapter near the very end. When Susie takes over Ruth's body and sleeps with Ray....ABSOLUTELY NOT. I've seen that trope before and its disgusting every time. Ruth couldn't consent to her body being used. It was a disgusting writing choice disguised as something...sweet? I have no idea what Alice Sebold was going for here.
Once that happened, all the other weak writing and plot points just jumped out at me. I was willing to forgive them until that scene.
I rarely go under two stars, but a rape that presents itself as something other than a rape makes it an automatic one-star. Gross.
Once that happened, all the other weak writing and plot points just jumped out at me. I was willing to forgive them until that scene.
I rarely go under two stars, but a rape that presents itself as something other than a rape makes it an automatic one-star. Gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
sonaria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
hyperashley's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Murder
annadrinksmilk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
gordosaurusrex's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
A beautiful, heartfelt book. A mix of murder mystery and relationship drama. The characters are super well written with flaws and some real development that makes them feel like real people, and the descriptions of where Susie spends the book are excellent. Emotional and intriguing. the section where Susie enters Ruth's body towards the end and makes love to Ray was a bit weird, and although I'm sure Ruth was alright with this arrangement it didn't stop me feeling a little icky as Susie used Ruth's body for her own wants, and she is technically still a little girl. This is the reason I didn't award 5 stars, but didn't take away from how impactful I felt the books was
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Gore
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Susie Salmon is tragically murdered as a teenager, but goes on to watch her family, and their grief and healing, from beyond the grave.
This one is the next installment in my “Project DNF” (a goal to finish all the books I’ve DNFed at other points in my life) and I’m really glad I picked it back up. 95% of this book was really beautiful and poignant, as well as really sad. I thought it was touching if a bit morose, and found myself really invested in the characters. In particular, I enjoyed seeing how the ripple effects of a death like this can impact so many people involved, even beyond immediate family members and close friends.
That said, I felt like the last few chapters represented a dramatic shift in tone and substance, and I really did not like the note the book ended on. It felt like we were building towards a certain type of story for the bulk of the novel, only to be thrown some weird curveballs at the end. This is, in large part, a book about closure—but unfortunately, it offers very little of that to the reader.
If you can handle really sad stories and want to read an interesting reflection on grief, this might be for you, but I truly wish it had gone a different way at the end.
CW: Death/child death; sexual assault/rape; violence; grief; infidelity
Susie Salmon is tragically murdered as a teenager, but goes on to watch her family, and their grief and healing, from beyond the grave.
This one is the next installment in my “Project DNF” (a goal to finish all the books I’ve DNFed at other points in my life) and I’m really glad I picked it back up. 95% of this book was really beautiful and poignant, as well as really sad. I thought it was touching if a bit morose, and found myself really invested in the characters. In particular, I enjoyed seeing how the ripple effects of a death like this can impact so many people involved, even beyond immediate family members and close friends.
That said, I felt like the last few chapters represented a dramatic shift in tone and substance, and I really did not like the note the book ended on. It felt like we were building towards a certain type of story for the bulk of the novel, only to be thrown some weird curveballs at the end. This is, in large part, a book about closure—but unfortunately, it offers very little of that to the reader.
If you can handle really sad stories and want to read an interesting reflection on grief, this might be for you, but I truly wish it had gone a different way at the end.
CW: Death/child death; sexual assault/rape; violence; grief; infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
nehalism's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence