Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

128 reviews

clarencemd12's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Drug use

jackbifrost's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use

loquaciousleon's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

Personally did not find this book to be funny. Yes, there were maybe two times I genuinely laughed, but I found it to be much more raw. 

This book is a slow plunge into a clear lake that appears refreshingly cold, before you dive in and your breath hitches at the discomfort. 

To be succinct: this book takes the course between precontemplation and preparation. The way Jen Beagin curated these characters with such genuine humanity that I forgot I was reading fiction, and honestly divulges into those difficult stages, is art. 

I personally found my perspective focusing on the truth of how trauma and unhealthy behaviors snow-ball. 

I think it made me uncomfortable because, from an objective/reader's point of view, I was experiencing second-hand ""embarassment"" for lack of better words. 
The awareness of how such trauma operates on internal and external levels, from a healed place, was uncomfortable in the way working out or stretching is.

Utterly: this book was human and I found it to be more compelling to think than to laugh. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Blood, Toxic relationship, Murder, Rape, and Addiction

kelsea's review against another edition

dark funny 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug use, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Mental illness and Addiction

commeunemadeleine's review against another edition

funny reflective fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, and Death of parent

ella_bibliophile_98's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Loved this book - favourite of this year - a great mix of
Humour, emotion, wit and beautiful descriptions - I liked the mix of transcription dialogue and real dialogue, the characterisation felt very natural and the story was a good pace, it didn’t drag too much. 

I like how it explored the complicated nature of the human experience and the need to feel wanted and loved, and how our trauma follows us even when we don’t want it to, and the barriers we put up to protect ourselves. The way it dealt with sexuality, age, mental illness and self improvement was interesting too. 

I liked the quirkiness of the town and the characters 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Animal cruelty, Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, and Domestic abuse

maryoliverenjoyer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.25

if you’re looking for messedddd up lesbians, BOY do I have a book for you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Stalking, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

wynnsical's review against another edition

dark funny sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I love a story with unlikeable characters prompting us to question what we believe. The question of what trauma is, how we carry it with us, and if we have the choice to live with it or not was a theme I enjoyed exploring throughout the novel. I also loved the odd details and side characters like Sabine and her eclectic house and Om and his therapy style that Greta hates.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence

miafromorchardstreet's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

aestinson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Blood, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent and Animal cruelty

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction