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A review by deagaric
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
"Cardinals are the most special birds because they kept us company in winter when the other birds leave [...] Be someone's cardinal."
Heartwarming story about processing grief from the perspective of three main characters. We are introduced to an elderly man who loses his wife to cancer and struggles to deal with regrets of unresolved arguments, a young woman who unexpectedly loses her father during an armed robbery and is trying to make sense of the unexplainable tragedy, and a mother of a kidnapped child who is trying to remain under chaotic circumstances.
Joella captures the multifaceted aspects of grief, loss, and loneliness, and leaves the reader with a sense of hope by the end. Very character-driven plot with plenty of character development throughout. Also, remarkably short book even for 304 pages (there are blank pages between many of the chapters). Quick, comfy read for winter.
Heartwarming story about processing grief from the perspective of three main characters. We are introduced to an elderly man who loses his wife to cancer and struggles to deal with regrets of unresolved arguments, a young woman who unexpectedly loses her father during an armed robbery and is trying to make sense of the unexplainable tragedy, and a mother of a kidnapped child who is trying to remain under chaotic circumstances.
Joella captures the multifaceted aspects of grief, loss, and loneliness, and leaves the reader with a sense of hope by the end. Very character-driven plot with plenty of character development throughout. Also, remarkably short book even for 304 pages (there are blank pages between many of the chapters). Quick, comfy read for winter.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder