Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris

21 reviews

libby_l96's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I picked up this book by recommendation, with no prior knowledge or understanding of the Bosnian war. I was immediately captivated by the narrator's voice, the vividness of the imagery and the complexity of the characters portrayed.
I feel like this book has taught me something, which is always a plus for me. There is a risk with historical fiction to go too deep into the details and lose the crux of the story, but this novel adhered to it's core message well. 
Heartbreaking, beautiful and poetic. I may have to purchase my own copy so I can read it again.
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bethancy's review against another edition

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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amyford's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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bookbinbaby's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • 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? No

3.5

A world I would not know or recognise myself, but an insight to what other people do experience when war installs itself in their homes, villages, towns, countries and lives. Emotionally shattering as you see Zora's world ravaged and turned upside down by powers outside her control but having a very real and increasing impact on her life and those around her, and showing how when environments change unexpectedly what it can do to a person/people. Harrowing to read in most parts, but you're carried along as Zora and her small tight knit community look after one another and try and maintain their sense of community and self expression in times of hostility, uncertainty and senseless violence, as best they can. 
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rochelles_reading_journal's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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creepycrawlybookworm's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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rosalind's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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imo_reads's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is a deeply moving book that chronicles the life and times of Sarajevans as their city slips slowly out of their grasp and into the depths of war. The narrative masterfully conveys the creeping sense of dread that things will not get better, interlaced with moments of unity and hope. It aims not to sensationalise or to shock, but to give a true sense of what life was like for ordinary people in Sarajevo in that first brutal year of the war - and it illustrates this with breathtaking clarity. Should be compulsory reading for everyone in light of the war in Ukraine.
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solasuaine's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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amy_park's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

Vivid in colour and in story, this book doesn't shy away from the horror of war and living under seige.  Spanning across a year from the beginning of the seige in Sarajevo during the early 1990s, the book follows Zora (and her neighbours) and her choice to stay in her beloved city whilst her family lives/move to England. The language was very immersive, I loved the use of colour throughout as Zora is an artist. Paintings and imagery of bridges centered the novel away from the catastrophy of war. I felt this book tried to explore alot in 270-ish pages, and I didn't feel as connected with the characters as I had hoped.
especiallly with the love storyline, i felt it was very abrupt towards the end and maybe a device from the author for Zora to yurn for Sarajevo after leaving, as she has nothing else to draw her back
I did overall like the book and I discovered a part of history that I wasn't aware of before. It sparked my interest to learn more about Yugoslavian history.
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