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A review by megelizabeth
The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home by Joanna Nell
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
"Regret was so self-indulgent. It was too late for whys and what-ifs."
This was a mixed read for me, because I really liked and enjoyed Hattie's character, and I thought the storyline was great in theory with some fantastic discussions around some important, thought-provoking topics. I also enjoyed the tone and found myself laughing out loud in places, and I adored Hattie's friendship with Murray and loved many of the side characters.
However, I absolutely could not stand Walter's character, and that made it difficult to enjoy the book as a whole as he's so central to the story. His misogyny is honestly at the level that it feels like he's written by a man, and I just could not bring myself to root for him. I appreciate this book for its many positive elements, but I just wish the story had been told entirely from Hattie's point of view and Walter's character had been incorporated in a different way.
This was a mixed read for me, because I really liked and enjoyed Hattie's character, and I thought the storyline was great in theory with some fantastic discussions around some important, thought-provoking topics. I also enjoyed the tone and found myself laughing out loud in places, and I adored Hattie's friendship with Murray and loved many of the side characters.
However, I absolutely could not stand Walter's character, and that made it difficult to enjoy the book as a whole as he's so central to the story. His misogyny is honestly at the level that it feels like he's written by a man, and I just could not bring myself to root for him. I appreciate this book for its many positive elements, but I just wish the story had been told entirely from Hattie's point of view and Walter's character had been incorporated in a different way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty and Child abuse