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machenn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
yooniereads'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
4.25
It takes a lot for me to feel the emotions an author intends with their work (part of the reason why I didn't cry over A Little Life), but the sense of languishing, regret, nostalgia, and exhaustion felt quite real in this one. The only reason I won't be giving it five stars is because it dragged on for quite a bit. But other than that, it's the kind of novel I'll be thinking about for some time.
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual assault
charlotte_trimmer'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? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death and Car accident
laurenw's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Rape, Antisemitism, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
orlagal'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
caitlinforster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, and Death of parent
readerette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's not a happy tale, which has been my experience with Atwood's other works. There is a great deal of depth in each character, and many different ways that depth is achieved. The level of unhappiness feels true to life--believable, if a bit fatiguing as a reader. There are laugh-out-loud funny moments mixed in with commentary on the meaning of life and wisdom of the choices we make. No character is perfect or overly trope-y.
The pacing was too slow for my taste, and there was too much content that didn't feel like it added anything except length. I believe others might see that as the way the narrator thinks or different characters engage in the world of the narrator, but for me, the excess was just dull.
Overall, I do recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, slow burn mysteries, or reflective characters.
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation
alannah_m'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
4.0
Pet Theory for this Book: Alex isn't real
Also, does anyone else see the similarities to Rebecca? Just a theory I'm working on...
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder