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katewhite77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Social Commentary with humour. A novel imagining the criminal underworld of cork.
We start with a new arrival to the city accidentally killing someone with a statue of the virgin Mary. Course it helps in situations if your son also happens to be Mr Big.
There follows an explanation of how poverty can so easily lead to criminal activity because of lack of choice and also how religion still plays a massive role in women's lives.
Full of characters you can't help but route for, but are also aware have massive flaws, it is a salutory reminder we are all just a mass of grey area.
I always find, that if you have important points that you want to make then, it is best to do so while making someone laugh as the message will stay longer thqt way. This novel will stqy with me for quite some time.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, and Pregnancy
marrsia'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt
gnothiseauton's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Rape
Moderate: Trafficking and Suicide attempt
marabender's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
beriboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
This is a brutal tale, full of heavy and sometimes uncomfortable topics, still it is quite a journey and I can see why it’s an award winner.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
lucesandin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Murder
smithy361's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Drug abuse, and Child abuse
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Glorious Heresies is a really gritty Irish novel featuring drugs, murder, alcohol, gangland violence, prostitution, domestic violence, sexual abuse and more. It’s also surprisingly funny, in a dark kind of way. There’s an intriguing cast of colourful characters including Maureen, the estranged mother of gangland boss Jimmy, who accidentally commits murder; alcoholic Tony who does a lot of Jimmy’s dirty work, and Tony’s 15 year old son Ryan, already a drug dealer but determined not to grow up to be like his abusive father. The characterisation is brilliant, making it easy to root for characters, who at first glance seemed pretty unlikeable. I couldn’t help want the best for Ryan and relate to the innocent hopeful boy inside the tough and sometimes angry exterior, even when he was failing miserably to live up to his goals. The writing is vibrant, full of energy and emotion. I’m glad I listened on audio since I think it really let the author’s voice shine. The anger at the Catholic Church and at government agencies for the way they treated those on the fringes of society was palpable.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Sexual violence
thecatsmother's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Violence, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
fionac326's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt