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lifesarosch's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: War
secre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Despite being the narrator, it's safe to say that John isn't the main character. Every tale he tells is dominated by Owen. Even moments that take place when Owen isn't even present are somehow dominated by Owen. John is almost a bit player in his own story. Interspersed throughout the novel, you have snapshots of John in the 'present' day, long since emigrated to Canada and somehow Owen even manages to dominate that! This isn't a criticism, mind. It's beautifully written and Owen is such an idiosyncratic character that he absolutely deserves to dominate the novel.
This is very much the meandering tale of two boys growing up. But it's also larger than that, as they grow up in the build up and throughout the Vietnam war. It's a coming of age tale, but it's also a political critique and a tale about faith, love and loyalty. It's poignant, moving and genuinely funny to the point it made me snort with laughter. It's strange and heartfelt. It sucked me in and the characters seemed to come to life around me. I, like John (and his grandmother), will certainly never forget Owen's voice. This was my first Irving novel. It absolutely won't be the last.
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: War
ninamanon's review against another edition
Moderate: Ableism, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
fkshg8465's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
thenecessarysalamander's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Racism, Blood, Antisemitism, Dementia, Religious bigotry, and War
natrabbits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence and War
fionamundy'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
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Blood, Sexual harassment, and War
cecim17's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
claremcginley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Incest, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Car accident, and War