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sarahbsews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
deliberate_dreamer'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? Yes
4.5
• Gone Girl-style regionalism/pacing (minus, thankfully, the depths of sadism),
• Baby Sitters’ Club Mystery girl-power nostalgia (leveled up for their original fans now grown),
• Thoreau references to appreciate & chuckle at, and
• multi-decade elite entourages & class commentary à la The Great Gatsby’s Buchanans.
In The God of the Woods, Liz Moore cinematically carries out a solid, multi-perspective, multi-timeline organizational style. Character development balances intentional voice-building with ownership of its clichés. The God of the Woods also nicely works to subvert expectations of the semi-thriller/mystery genre while intuitively exploring generational submission vs. empowerment, as well as issues of patriarchy vs. matriarchy, legacy, classism, mental health, instinct, and closure. I found at least 90% page-turning and worth 4.5+ stars — but at times longed for the author to take more chances or make things messier even more.
Are all of the characters likable? At times, all them I detest; other times, all of them, I appreciate in their own way. All of them earn their keep. As I read, I chuckled often to think to one GoodReads review noting so much dislike for the characters that they declared “Let her be lost; let all of them be lost, actually” (@brend). In answer to that review, I sense this aggravation was intentionally part of Moore’s goal: to generate in us Gatsby-level disgust for the whole lot, yet challenge is to preserve their humanity, too.
All in all, I found this to be an engaging, mostly-satisfying read. It was also the first time my library surprised me a rare “skip-the-line loan” of an e-book, so cool!
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
ejjira's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Child death, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Infidelity, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
erikalynny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief
grunbean's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
The last few chapters couldn't be put down. Some parts of the ending didn't make the most sense to me, but there were interesting choices that could see coming from the clues.
I think the characters and the care and depth with which they were written is the best part. Sometimes it can be overwhelming when you have lots of different perspectives, but I feel this author balances it well. Some characters I love and feel sympathy for, and some I am apathetic for. But those I had apathy for were still interesting to read!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
janet_g'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is not really a mystery/crime novel. It is a story about class and family, as well as the deep sadness. It is very well-written; I found nothing about it slow and tedious, and I seek out books with multiple points of view.
Having been a college senior in 1975 and a soon-to-be professional woman in a field dominated by men, I thought that the setting of this book in 1975 was important. The actions of some of the characters were more easily accomplished in the late 70s, and Judy’s thoughts about her future as a working woman were both prescient and, in light of recent events, heartbreaking.
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, and Classism
kaliecameron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
maestro_cerrotorcido's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
corporateballerina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The main aspect of the book I find interesting is its comparison of women. While characters like Alice and Annabel rely on men for their safety and purpose (to the point of hysteria and, arguably, idiocy), the selection of strong women and girls (Louise, Judy, Barbara) give the novel its backbone. It’s fitting that the story is set in the ‘70s, when modern feminism really starts making an impact in the United States.
There are other parts of the novel to consider as well, such as upper class vs. lower class. I enjoyed the book, and I look forward to the author’s future works.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity
katiefern's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol