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bookish_purrsuits's review against another edition
Didn't realize this had certain CW or that it was written by a man.
lilylanie's review against another edition
3.0
This is the third book I’ve read in as many months that purports to be about a whole bunch of things but in actuality is 90% about World War II, which seems like an oddly specific coincidence. I don’t necessarily object to books about WWII but you have to be in a certain frame of mind to handle war crimes and in all three cases, I wasn’t really there. Hint: if you can’t stomach rape, choose a different book.
In this case, I was attracted to the description of the 80-year-old woman with a laptop and a hand grenade and was looking forward to hearing about her revenge on a world that has wronged her. That part did exist and I enjoyed it quite a lot, but it was only a tiny part of the narrative.
Overall I think the rest of it was well written but maybe just ... too much. I think that when you start to feel bored by endless tales of tragedy, loss and abuse, that’s a bad sign. The leaps between locations and time periods, through no fewer than 117 short chapters, also lent to a sense of almost numbness. Just too much.
That said, if you do make it through to the end, the last sentence is one of the best of the book.
In this case, I was attracted to the description of the 80-year-old woman with a laptop and a hand grenade and was looking forward to hearing about her revenge on a world that has wronged her. That part did exist and I enjoyed it quite a lot, but it was only a tiny part of the narrative.
Overall I think the rest of it was well written but maybe just ... too much. I think that when you start to feel bored by endless tales of tragedy, loss and abuse, that’s a bad sign. The leaps between locations and time periods, through no fewer than 117 short chapters, also lent to a sense of almost numbness. Just too much.
That said, if you do make it through to the end, the last sentence is one of the best of the book.
ivetace's review against another edition
3.0
Nesapratu galvenās varones izvēles: ja kaut ko nesabojā karš, tad to sabojā viņa pati.
lambsears's review against another edition
3.0
This book should really have appealed to me - what's not to love about a feisty octogenarian who's made an appointment for her own cremation?
However, I didn't want to read another WWII book right now, even if it was from a totally different viewpoint than usual, and I have some real problems with men writing as women - especially when rape comes into the picture.
The narrative is somewhat disjointed, with some major events simply not depicted (how did she find her mother again?) and her dysfunctional relationships with her sons are not really explained, simply brushed aside.
There are parts of this that are entertaining but, in the end, I only kept reading to finish it.
However, I didn't want to read another WWII book right now, even if it was from a totally different viewpoint than usual, and I have some real problems with men writing as women - especially when rape comes into the picture.
The narrative is somewhat disjointed, with some major events simply not depicted (how did she find her mother again?) and her dysfunctional relationships with her sons are not really explained, simply brushed aside.
There are parts of this that are entertaining but, in the end, I only kept reading to finish it.
curlyfrze's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kirtcanread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
sashahenriksen's review against another edition
2.0
Nothing groundbreaking or special about this book but it has its moments
arinatrosihina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0