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polyphonicprairies's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
It has been a long long time since I've been so compelled to immediately re-read the last few pages of a book. A devastating denouement and exposé of a key character which immediately cohered the entire novel. God, it was SO GOOD.
Having a highly intelligent and wily character like Lakey re-emerge in the final act to absolutely annihilate the reader's view of Harald feels like McCarthy's late-stage intervention to protect Kay. The irony comes in waves - this unravelling comes far too late; it should have been Kay's view of Harald being annihilated; Kay and Lakey could have circumvented the whole sorry mess and gone off together in the first place. Truly incomparable writing that simultaneously breaks your heart, makes you gasp and fills you with righteous anger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny
miiiiiiilla's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
lprnana6572's review
2.0
Finally read it after hearing about it for so many years. Not too impressed and it seemed to me it just ended without a good resolution.
lilibuus's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
monicamckee's review
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
humito's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
ladyreading365's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
lauriestein's review
4.0
A monumental work of social history. The reader really sees a generation form and manifest itself. I wish I had read this before its 90s doppelganger A Fortunate Age but the constant doubling and tracking backwards added an interesting liminality to the experience.
sjgrodsky's review
4.0
Read for the third or fourth time. Some holes in the narrative but the book still stands up, 62 years after first publication.