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charlied10's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I nearly gave up on this one in the first half. Characters were 2D and not likeable. I got weary of the constant sexual obsessing.
The second half was completely different! Cyril’s character develops significantly, and characters around him are much more interesting and likeable. His experiences in key moments of world social history were educational and interesting.
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry
savheath's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Outing, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Cursing, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Incest, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
freydawreviews's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Grief
caties_books's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, Medical content, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Classism, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Blood, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs
kld2128's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, and Sexual violence
caitiebutler's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Minor: Kidnapping
pulpandprose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Hate crime, and Self harm
Minor: Trafficking and Adult/minor relationship
ashleighisreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, and Hate crime
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What I so love about Boyne's books is that they can be completely devastating, but they are so human. His protagonists' flaws are so often centre stage and Cyril is no exception. But it is because he makes mistakes that I fell so in love with him.
Another element in Boyne's writing that can't be underestimated is how utterly hilarious it can be. He can portray a desperately sad situation and still evoke a laugh. Right from the beginning Cyril's adoptive parents repeatedly insist that he's "not a real Avery", ensuring that throughout his entire life he absentmindedly adds the prefix "adoptive" every time anyone mentions his mother or father. It becomes such a delightful running joke that you overlook the inherent cruelty behind such an attitude. Also look out for when Cyril makes the decision to declare all his secret feelings in the confessional as a teenager, or when he meets a nervous young woman while visiting someone in prison.
This is a sweeping, epic story that tracks Cyril's life from his birth in 1945 right up to 2015. We revisit him every seven years and build a picture of how his life, and society around him (particularly in Ireland), is changing. There are some astonishing coincidences in the people he meets along the way (I loved all the chance encounters with Catherine Goggin), but I didn't care how likely that would be in real life when it served the narrative so beautifully.
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Violence, and Religious bigotry
chloe260497's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness