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storydevgrace's reviews
162 reviews
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
In 17th-century Holland, Protestant Griet works as a maid in the strange, Catholic household of a famous painter to support her newly impoverished family. Under the thumb of the lecherous van Reuijen, the struggling household relies on Griet to submit to his wishes, but not to her own temptation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
The SA is implied rather than explicit. I didn't realise it was meant to be stronger than what was written until I watched the film. In the book, more attention is paid to what the characters say than what they do, which made it palatable for me.
The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
It was a day of many firsts when I read this book, which may have influenced the five stars I won't take back. I was travelling cross-country on a train unsupervised for the first time to spend Christmas with my Dad's side of the family for the first time.
My Mum asked the conductor, a black woman with momma bear vibes, to keep an eye on me. Momma Bear escorted me to first class and handed me a complimentary gift bag, and inside was a copy of this book. I finished it in half the journey from Carlisle to Basingstoke, reeling from the impactful theme of motherhood and flawed caregivers and how it fitted in this major stepping stone in my life.
It was the first contemporary fiction I'd ever read, in contrast to all the J.K. Rowling, Tamora Pierce, and other romantic magic-heavy adventures rattling around in my head to distract me from a tough childhood.
It was a gateway into finding the merit of stories that do the opposite of helping me escape reality and hand me the tools I needed to navigate it. The realisation that an adult in my life may be a liar and gaslighter might have saved my life, and it was this book that opened me up to that idea. I cannot thank Lisa Jewell enough.
My Mum asked the conductor, a black woman with momma bear vibes, to keep an eye on me. Momma Bear escorted me to first class and handed me a complimentary gift bag, and inside was a copy of this book. I finished it in half the journey from Carlisle to Basingstoke, reeling from the impactful theme of motherhood and flawed caregivers and how it fitted in this major stepping stone in my life.
It was the first contemporary fiction I'd ever read, in contrast to all the J.K. Rowling, Tamora Pierce, and other romantic magic-heavy adventures rattling around in my head to distract me from a tough childhood.
It was a gateway into finding the merit of stories that do the opposite of helping me escape reality and hand me the tools I needed to navigate it. The realisation that an adult in my life may be a liar and gaslighter might have saved my life, and it was this book that opened me up to that idea. I cannot thank Lisa Jewell enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
The Painted Garden by Noel Streatfeild
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0