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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
3.0
This was a slog! And kind of the last thing I expected from Anita Shreve, when I ~loved~ The Weight of Water so much. I don't necessarily hate a male protag, but I had a super hard time liking or connecting or engaging with a male protag who cares only about himself and not about his wife's like, happiness. And then to throw everyone in his life under the bus for a job? Ew, gross. I was already done with him before the fucking sexual assault and the making your child lie about being assaulted. I felt a little more kindly toward Etna, who could have a comparison to Daisy in The Great Gatsby, since she was really just trying to live a fulfilling life with a husband that she didn't love. I probably would have rated this book lower, but I liked the epistolary section and then things got more intense after that. I don't know what book the blurb-writers on the back cover read, but it surely didn't seem like this one.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Antisemitism, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Alcohol, and War
veraweatherly's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Boy, I hate that guy
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
quinn24's review against another edition
I just found it slow and not very entertaining
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death