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abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Terminal illness, Cursing, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Violence, War, Murder, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Child death, Vomit, and Abandonment
ronan900's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Vomit, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
sophtanda's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, War, Animal death, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Alcohol, and Blood
Moderate: Excrement, Colonisation, Grief, Medical content, and Cancer
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual content
heuteschongekurtet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Gore, Mental illness, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, War, Alcohol, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Medical content, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexual content, Cursing, Cancer, Genocide, and Sexism
skiaakari's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Murder, War, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
saraaaa's review against another edition
4.75
I feel like the author went for an explicitly didascalic approach, unambiguously denouncing the horrors of the war through the first person account of the young protagonist's personal experiences and reflections.
The strong accent on the loss of youthful dreams and teenage convictions makes it, in a way, a hybrid between a war novel and a bildungsroman.
The style was poetic at times, especially when reporting the protagonist's considerations, then moving to a kind of matter-of-factly journalistic style when describing the soldiers' routine and daily sufferings.
Last but not least, it's the first – and so far the only – war novel I read that managed to give a realistic account of a teenage boy's perspective on women and sexual attraction without falling into misogyny.
Graphic: Body horror, War, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Death, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol, Excrement, and Racial slurs
izzallgood'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Cancer
Minor: Excrement
A really thought-provoking book, with rich, devastating imagery and equally deep and devastating reflection from the protagonist throughout. A deeply human, moving and raw experience. I found myself shocked at how well I was able to relate to these enormous emotions, despite never having experienced anything remotely close to what is described throughout - this is a testament to how authentic and human the writing is. I felt as Paul felt as he felt it. One of the best books I’ve read.philodora's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Grief, Gun violence, War, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
sammaich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death, War, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Gun violence
Minor: Cancer
shoshin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Powerful. Everyone should read it.
Graphic: Death, Cancer, and War