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avasbookmark's reviews
237 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I know it’s all part of the dark satire angle but I had a hard time getting past the unlike-ability of almost every character in the book. I wanted to root for Jane but it was difficult.
Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
4.0
I have to admit, though, I did prefer/better connect with the poems I’ve read from “Night Sky with Exit Wounds” and of course the masterful “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous”.
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and War
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
That being said, I think I would’ve preferred to see this as a play. The 12 hanged maids were really the stars of this book and although I thought the chorus concept was unique, I wish the book had delved deeper into their lives and stories. I thought I was going to be a lot more invested in Penelope as a character than I actually was by the end of this :(
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and War
3.5
Towards the end, I did feel like I was listening to the author read me her resume or LinkedIn profile and I swear I heard the same few sentences repeated but with slightly different wording- maybe to hit a word count goal?
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My problem with short story collections remains though. Some of these stories are more memorable than others and I probably would have preferred a full length novel but that’s just me.
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Slavery
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia