Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

14 reviews

marioosa517's review

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

Moderate: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Pandemic/Epidemic, Toxic friendship, and Blood

Minor: Abortion, Suicide, Sexism, Racism, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Self harm, Death, Death of parent, Cancer, Excrement, Violence, War, and Sexual content

slefebvre95's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

Minor: Suicide, Animal death, Abortion, and Death

cassiealexandra's review against another edition

4.25

I put this on my TBR long enough ago that I did not remember or realize it was set during the pandemic. This could be sensitive for some readers so I’m pointing it out from the start. I had a mixed reaction to this book overall. While I thought the writing was beautiful and it was expertly crafted, there were some parts I struggled with.

The story framing was very interesting to me. I liked that it took a look at Lara’s coming-of-age through the lens of her telling her grown daughters about it. I appreciated the look at nostalgia, suffering (worldwide), legacy, contentment, and the sweet and deep love between husband and wife and family. I was also surprised by the moments of humor in a somewhat serious read.

There were a couple of plot points that seemed to come out of nowhere for me; they seemed nearly unnecessary. The pacing also seemed to slow down at a couple points and I would have preferred it staying steady. I also got confused at a couple of points because of the way the story was framed and reading by audio. I think some of these confusing moments could have been cleared up had I read it in print. And speaking of the audio, I hate to say it, but I had a difficult time with Meryl Streep. I couldn’t keep myself from picturing her instead of picturing our character, Lara, and that was a slight distraction throughout.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and appreciated the writing style and themes, but I think I may have liked the experience more in print.

— NOTES —
Genres: literary fiction
POV: first-person, singular
Content: pandemic, infidelity, death of loved ones (a couple other things that are spoilers)
Romance: mostly vague implied intimacy and a couple minor sexual situations

— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 4
Craft: 5
My Gut Feeling: 4
Total Stars: 4.25 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Grief

Minor: Abortion and Suicide

alyssapusateri's review against another edition

reflective relaxing medium-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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicide, Abortion, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Medical content, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

tashtasher's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Suicide, Alcohol, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Death, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Grief, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death and Racism

ajhowe2's review against another edition

reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Addiction, Infidelity, Eating disorder, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion, Racism, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death

hinkleh's review

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Medical content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Death, Vomit, Cancer, and Racism

Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

rayreyes's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Solid book. Took me up until 50% through to get invested in the story. Really lovely and would recommend overall.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Racism, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Abortion

allisonstockslager's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

sweetheart_ok's review

challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This book slowly unravels two storylines that converge at the end. The characters are likable yet flawed, and the narrator clearly regards herself poorly while revealing her uncanny ability to choose fateful interactions. The contrast between the two stories is stark but codependent. Pratchett skillfully develops complex characters and complicated relationships in this tale of heartache, family, and a search for peace

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and Abortion