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teetea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Rape
Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Animal cruelty
dog_mom's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I wanted to really like this book. I initially enjoyed the different writing style, reverse chronology, and some of the events of the book are interesting especially those about fleeing to the US. I would have liked more of those. The last chapter left a bad taste in my mouth. I suppose if I had read that chapter first I would not have read the rest of the book out of total dislike of that character. Maybe that was the point of the backwards style after all1
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
katherine_kelley's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don't know what to say. It was fine but had no real impact on me. I wasn't intrigued by the lives of these people, really. I also struggled to distinguish between perspectives and found the serialized nature of the novel not to be particularly interesting. I think I might have liked it better if I went into it with the expectation of it being a collection of stories instead of one narrative because it isn't one narrative. I also think that the book is really outdated in places with fatphobia and colorism. I also found the actions of characters that were intentionally unlikable made me uncomfortable sometimes. Like, I was supposed to find it unlikable, but it didn't make me like the story that was being told. I also was not interested in the sisters' domestic lives, which make up a large part of the narrative. It's just not for me, and I don't think it was really cohesive enough for most people to get something out of it as a total product. But what do I know?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Racism
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