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Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

93 reviews

spooky_haley's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was a book I struggled to fully digest, but absolutely loved. Dot did a wonderful job describing the Garden and the Butterflies in such a beautiful way that I had to constantly remind myself that this was a terrible place where terrible things happen. Definitely my favorite book of 2023 so far!

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jasminewolfe's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

4.5

This is a very challenging read since it touches on some very traumatic themes and actions. I found that they way the author unfolds the story and utilizes the unique voice of the main character to be an admirable way to speak on such difficult things.

It's easy for me to be turned off from any story which involves female pain because so often it is done for shock factor or as a means to push forth a man's storyline or character development. However, the reality is that women experience a myriad of trauma due to their gender, and to avoid ever writing about wouldn't serve us either.

Dot Hutchison does a wonderful job of creating complex characters who are flawed and beautiful, and through their eyes we are able to digest the horrors of this book alongside the triumphs. So, while the plot might be one hindering on the suffering of girls, the lesson we learn is about love, family and sisterhood.

I loved this book.

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afroheaux's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is an intense and gripping thriller with each detail more shocking than the last. The switching of perspectives can get a little confusing sometimes and the timeline isn’t always clear, but the MC’s perseverance is incredible. What I didn’t like was the author’s tendency to describe her expression as anything but a smile. It got tedious after a while. 

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sarah2438's review

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The ending was just a bit too rosy for me. But the book is very well written and despite its darkness, it is tactful in the depictions of SA.

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drs645's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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greenclovers75's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0


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christyjoreads's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Very engaging.  This had so many disturbing moments. It was interesting how the gardner could justify what he was doing and how he felt entitled to the beauty of women.  It is horrifying to realize that (some) men think beauty and sex seemed to be owed to them.....

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lydiavsbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

A very dark book but also an incredibly gripping one. As horrible as it is its also a really interesting and creative concept that was carried out brilliantly. The 'world building' of the garden was perfectly done and it just felt so real.

 I loved our main character and hearing her narration, flipping back and forth between being in the interview room and being in the garden. The gardener was such an interesting and complex villain to follow and try to understand. Although obviously an extreme example there was some great commentary on violence against women, power, and responsibility when it comes to intervening. 

There was one point I thought it was going in a direction I really didn't like (trying to be vague to avoid spoikers) but it got explained and thankfully didn't go there. Although the reveal at the end I'm not sure how I feel about, it felt a little too coincidental and there was no real need other than for the sake of having another secret to reveal. But I also wasn't mad at it.

Overall just a really brilliant book with a really good balance between the very dark content and the almost hopeful sense of family and connection found even in the worst scenarios. Definitely recommend but definitely check content warnings.


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magical_mads's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • 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? No

5.0


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sydbingus's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I think the “twist” at the end was a little unnecessary and ruined it a little for me, but still a very enjoyable read! 

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