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jsncnrd's review against another edition
2.25
This book put me in a reading slump. I think it might’ve been the selfish characters and the relationship filled to the brim with gaslighting, emotional abuse and threats of violence.
nyeran's review
1.0
“A moment of happiness could feel almost like a wound.”
✿ Com'è che si dice in questi casi? Non sei tu sono io? Ma in fondo sei tu...sei tu.
Perchè sei partito bene e poi non è chiaro cosa è successo, ti sei trascinato morente verso un lieto fine che volevi farci stare a tutti i costi. E poi alla fine ci metti una frase che ti fa capire che non lo è nemmeno, un lieto fine. Quindi tutto quello che ho letto prima a cosa è servito? Ad un cazzo di niente. E non è il finale il problema, non avrei avuto problemi con quella fine se il libro mi avesse portato ad accettarla, se la scrittura mi avesse indirizzato verso quello, invece per tutto il tempo un senso di speranza permea la lettura e alla fine ti ritrovi con un finale incoerente con tutto quello che hai letto prima.
✿ Com'è che si dice in questi casi? Non sei tu sono io? Ma in fondo sei tu...sei tu.
Perchè sei partito bene e poi non è chiaro cosa è successo, ti sei trascinato morente verso un lieto fine che volevi farci stare a tutti i costi. E poi alla fine ci metti una frase che ti fa capire che non lo è nemmeno, un lieto fine. Quindi tutto quello che ho letto prima a cosa è servito? Ad un cazzo di niente. E non è il finale il problema, non avrei avuto problemi con quella fine se il libro mi avesse portato ad accettarla, se la scrittura mi avesse indirizzato verso quello, invece per tutto il tempo un senso di speranza permea la lettura e alla fine ti ritrovi con un finale incoerente con tutto quello che hai letto prima.
avocajo's review
3.75
i wanted to like it more. i think the writing style just wasn’t for me at times, and while the overall story and relationships were well-written, it was the parts in between that i felt dragged.
as the author says in his note, this is his own parallel world to the one he experienced, and he could fill any gaps in himself. but as a reader, there were gaps or moments of inconsequence that just existed.
this is a love letter to Virginia, i’m sure
as the author says in his note, this is his own parallel world to the one he experienced, and he could fill any gaps in himself. but as a reader, there were gaps or moments of inconsequence that just existed.
this is a love letter to Virginia, i’m sure
ronanprsh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
"This was November, a chilly morning after a storm swept color down from the trees, the yard golden and bronze, wet leaves clinging to the steps. A beginning of the fall of leaves in the canopy overhead, trees in every direction. One must have a mind of winter. He was reading Wallace Stevens in a class, “The Dove in the Belly,” the first time he had felt a poem in his marrow. “The whole of appearance is a toy. For this, / The dove in the belly builds his nest and coos …” It made him shiver. The nothing that is."
asyelz's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aromarrie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oh this hurt. a lot. i love this story so much for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Dementia, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Minor: Abandonment
haleylinn's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nightstitch96's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, Cancer, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Dementia, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity and Vomit
kimmyp's review
3.0
There were parts of this story that I liked, but there were also quite a bit that I didn’t. This story takes place in the 70s, so I understand that it was a different time, but I didn’t like the way Ben treated Ronnie and the names he called him. He was in a difficult position being a football player and coming to terms with his sexuality in that environment and time and he was losing his mom, but he was callous with Ronnie’s feelings. And he had a major anger problem that I didn’t like. But, he was also the one who was more resolute in showing his feelings and keeping Ronnie close. I did enjoy the connection they made as their relationship progressed where they talked to each other and leaned on the other. I enjoyed the pining and I understand that Ben needed a break because he didn’t know how to deal with the loss of his mom. I guess it didn’t pack as much of an emotional punch as I was expecting and hoping for, even with all of the dark topics. It didn’t land for me.