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lhisalisa21's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, and Mental illness
georgeoglesby's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Incredibly well written with a terrible ending. Not for the feint of heart and just plain demoralising. Very hard book to review. It’s objectively not a bad book but you don’t feel great afterwards and something about it feels very wrong
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
hongjoongie's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Good writing and depiction of ptsd/depression but very average overall.
ashenweaver's review against another edition
3.0
Strange, and somewhat relatable at times.
Until I finished the book I didn't know the history of the author, learning that it was his first puts things into perspective. The book is strange and hard to follow at times, drifting into sprawling symbolic metaphors and being somewhat predictive story beats. Regardless, the depiction of mental illness and ptsd within the story is the best part, exemplified by it being the main theme. I did not find the story itself to be compelling, especially with the "mystery" of what happened to his mother but the depiction of the aftermath of how it has affected him since was very well written in my eyes. The self loathing and isolation he faces is characteristic of such an event, and the crippling effect it has on his life is well taken into account. My personal favourite part is his talk with his father, the slow and deliberate game they play to pad out time before they really have to speak, before it all comes out at once. I loved the way these dams pent of emotion came out in the story, in violent fits that eventually die back into obscurity.
Until I finished the book I didn't know the history of the author, learning that it was his first puts things into perspective. The book is strange and hard to follow at times, drifting into sprawling symbolic metaphors and being somewhat predictive story beats. Regardless, the depiction of mental illness and ptsd within the story is the best part, exemplified by it being the main theme. I did not find the story itself to be compelling, especially with the "mystery" of what happened to his mother but the depiction of the aftermath of how it has affected him since was very well written in my eyes. The self loathing and isolation he faces is characteristic of such an event, and the crippling effect it has on his life is well taken into account. My personal favourite part is his talk with his father, the slow and deliberate game they play to pad out time before they really have to speak, before it all comes out at once. I loved the way these dams pent of emotion came out in the story, in violent fits that eventually die back into obscurity.
umuhhhdrew's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lukeswagner's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book Williams ever wrote. While it is not as good as his other books, Williams's beautiful writing makes it an enjoyable read.
motelsix's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
noahtruelove's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0