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slowreadersam'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? Yes
4.5
An emotional story that also embodied the distrust, manipulation and angst during the the Vietnam War time period.
The only negative comment I have is that I wish the romantic relationships in the story were developed more so that I was more emotionally invested. However, I understand that this is probably a reflection of the books context where some relationships were built from trauma bonding.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, War, Violence, Grief, Addiction, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Miscarriage and Police brutality
Minor: Cancer
themrshedrick816'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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Cursing, Medical content, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gore, Child death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Miscarriage, Death, Police brutality, and War
jeggert10'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
4.25
Graphic: War, Toxic relationship, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Cursing, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Abortion, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Police brutality, and Rape
esjackson's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Car accident, Grief, Violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Gore, Gun violence, Cursing, Suicide, Addiction, Child death, Alcohol, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Vomit, War, and Self harm
Moderate: Classism, Vomit, and Cancer
Minor: Torture, Hate crime, Abortion, and Police brutality
oproy's review
- 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
3.75
Overall, I honestly probably would not recommend this book because it is so heavy and at points a little too preachy for my taste. However, the setting and idea behind it is very interesting and definitely something I want to look into further after reading. Even in school, I don’t feel that I learned much about the Vietnam War let alone the women in the war, so this feels like a jumping board.
Graphic: Police brutality, War, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Alcohol, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Gore, Body horror, Car accident, Medical content, Suicide, Blood, and Child death
ckozik1017's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Medical content, Gun violence, War, Suicide attempt, Violence, Addiction, Grief, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Infertility
morethanmylupus's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Women can be heroes.
Once again, Hannah has managed to write an incredibly moving novel on a rarely-covered topic.
I thought the first part in Vietnam was really long given that the book is supposed to be about what happens when she gets home. However, as I kept reading, I could see why Hannah wrote it the way she did. The first part really sets the stage for Frankie's return and the way the impacts of the trauma of the war play out in her life. The characters were complex (and, for once, not all white - something I often struggle with in Hannah's novels).
It did feel like the time period was repeatedly forced on us. How many times did we need to be told that someone was wearing bell bottoms? By the end, I was rolling my eyes at every mention of the clothing.
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, War, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Police brutality
alli_christi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Alcohol, Gore, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, War, and Death
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Cursing
Minor: Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, and Cancer
laura_berger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, Grief, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Death, Misogyny, Child death, and Gaslighting
Minor: Police brutality
kelsinavalta's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Medical content, Torture, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Infidelity, Genocide, Car accident, Cancer, Abortion, Child death, War, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Violence, Sexism, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Infertility, Death, Suicide, Police brutality, and Blood