Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

4 reviews

sometimesalyreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I know what you're thinking: "This looks like a great historical fiction about a female spy during World War II" and you're right to think that, but you're WRONG. This book is set in modern day-ish (2016), 1971 and 1980. So many years, none being the 30s or 40s. 

That being said, it IS a great historical fiction! About other years. A teenager in the 70s who finds herself pregnant and forced to give her baby up for adoption, the trauma that she and the other women face, the eventual decision to become a doctor and join an underground abortion network, so that women can have a choice. 

Another woman, modern day, desperate for a child of her own - discovers a letter. She decides, like many others, to go looking for Jane. 

The plot twist in this book threw me for an absolute loop, I will give it that. I was flabbergasted. Taken back. Shocked. 

The plot starts slow, and at time and dialogue at times, was a little too "scripted infomercial" on women's oppression and the fight for reproductive rights, but the plot was beautiful. I cried many times reading this book club pick and I highly recommend it.

Buckle up for the last 20% because the author does rush to tie everything together, but I felt it was well-done and really, all about women and our multitudes. 4.5 stars!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Suicide

Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Infertility, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

brittburkard's review against another edition

It is well written so far, interesting story, important, I'd truly like to pick it up again at some point, but for right now it is a little too much for me and it is due back to the library with several months wait before I get it back. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

arnold_shelby's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Abandonment

Moderate: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Confinement, Grief, Medical content, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Suicide, Cancer, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Child death, Medical content, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

I thought some parts of the book had unnecessary exposition, where it felt like one of the story lines was being used to feed specific aspects of history to the reader, however that was short-lived thankfully. I enjoyed this book, it was raw and a rough read at times but I was glad to have read it.

pinkiefem's review

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Cancer, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Trafficking, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Infertility, Confinement, Grief, Suicide attempt, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Abortion, and Emotional abuse