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sidsaid's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Vomit
Also contains sex between minors, talk of sex by minors.astridrv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
I have seen the author compared to Ernaux, and I can see why. A troubling account of poverty, bullying, and homophobia from a narrator whose conflict with social and gender roles in his family and village provided him with a self aware analytical gaze on social behaviours and class patterns. However, none of it felt as novel and thought provoking as I expected, given that this book was all rage when it came out. The writing is unremarkable, which feels almost rude to write, but remains important to me as a reader. The story matters, but is banal - arguably, that is why it does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Miscarriage, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Vomit, and Car accident