Scan barcode
peachani'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, Suicide, Death of parent, Medical content, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
sarahjanecw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Suicide, Self harm, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent
stellahadz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The second half did seem to start taking the topics of sexual harassment and abuse of power much more seriously, and from that point on, I tore through the book to learn how everything would play out. I loved the writing style - it reminded me a lot of Zadie Smith (which is a huge compliment; White Teeth is one of my all-time favorite books). Each character in The List had a distinct voice, which really made them come alive. As much as the devil's advocate narrative was uncomfortable to read, and I think the author could perhaps have written it better, the theme of how easily social media can change lives, for better or for worse (and regardless of whether the people in question "deserve it") is an important one. A side character is described as "more than ready to sharpen her pixelated pitchfork until it pointed back at her," which I thought was brilliant. I've seen some criticism of the plot twist, but I actually quite liked it - it reinforces one of the larger points of the book, which is that sometimes things are really, really not what they seem. Jumping to conclusions is exactly how we sometimes miss bigger, more dangerous problems. Spoiler alert:
This book loses some points with me just because of how shallow I found the beginning, but I'm still happy to give it 4 stars based on the writing style and the improvement of the story in the second half.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
emilyandthewhippet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Racism, Grief, Hate crime, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Outing, Pedophilia, Suicide, Cursing, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Bullying, Death, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Violence
laurataylor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Car accident, Infidelity, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault