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wilde_read'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
4.0
I listened this book too close on the heels of Dickens' Dombey and Son. There is some similarity in the themes that makes me want to run towards some different genres for after this.
The story is mysterious enough and I speculated on some of the possible motives of the characters. If you listen to this version of the book read by Rogers Rees, you might do well to do as I did and drop the speed to 95%, otherwise Hartwright's narratives sound completely breathless!
I need to sort my reading pile into serialized fictions and stretch them out a bit. It doesn't devalue the novel at all, but I'm sure I will increase my enjoyment by slowing down.
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Misogyny
ggcd1981's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Sexism, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
annaonthepage'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? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, and Ableism
Minor: Death and Animal cruelty
mimi_jaja's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved Mariane Halcombe and how Collins creates cinematic scenes, describing the fall of light and casting of shadows. He pays great attention to subtleties of character's expressions during dialogue. I was also surprised at times by the nuanced manner in which Collins depicted women's experiences, sisterhood, relationships and interactions with men that appeared in Mariane's passages. That said, Walter's place in the narrative as a white knight in shining armour spoilt the feminist potential of the story. The morality was also dubious. Also, I would say that the fatphobia throughout is pretty extreme. The representation of Italians was offensive but interesting as a snapshot of tolerant vs intolerant attitudes at the time.
I listened along to the audiobook as I read my paperback too which I can recommend. I was hooked! This was a pleasure to read and didn't feel at all like 600 pages.
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and Emotional abuse
manilea's review
- 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
Minor: Forced institutionalization
orndal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Murder, Racial slurs, Bullying, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Ableism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
reading_historical_romance'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? No
5.0
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Grief
ok7a's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
jessthanthree'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? No
5.0
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Mental illness
Minor: Animal cruelty
sayhar13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia and Mental illness
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny