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candyflosscurls's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
larlylar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
james2529's review against another edition
1.5
Absolutely hated this book. Good concept, but repetitive to the point where I was skim reading whole pages of absolute nothing. It is a 380 page book and 200 pages could be cut with no loss whatsoever.
It takes until literally 80% of the way through the book for James' mum to think to go to London and look for him.
All the characters principally worried about James' threats are accompanied by another person who seems like a hindrance. The last chapter for each of these characters then shows us that, in fact, apropos of nothing, these annoying characters are willing and able to help. These final chapters are so repetitive and obvious they drove me mad.
Furthermore, NONE of these characters actually have a hand in stopping James. It's just random chance that he doesn't off himself.
The ending seems totally rushed and unearned, and Watson goes for an artistic ending the challenge of which his limited writing ability is entirely unable to meet.
Absolute trash.
It takes until literally 80% of the way through the book for James' mum to think to go to London and look for him.
All the characters principally worried about James' threats are accompanied by another person who seems like a hindrance. The last chapter for each of these characters then shows us that, in fact, apropos of nothing, these annoying characters are willing and able to help. These final chapters are so repetitive and obvious they drove me mad.
Furthermore, NONE of these characters actually have a hand in stopping James. It's just random chance that he doesn't off himself.
The ending seems totally rushed and unearned, and Watson goes for an artistic ending the challenge of which his limited writing ability is entirely unable to meet.
Absolute trash.
lukeb314's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.5
jakelipman's review against another edition
4.0
Holy shit, what a rollercoaster this was. I can't say I've ever read anything like it. It had me concerned, fearful, angry, shocked and on edge. I thought only horror books could do that to me, but this is far from that.
I honestly don't know how to feel after finishing this book, because there were quite a few emotions rushing through me throughout the journey of its reading. 'Exhausted' almost seems accurate.
I'll finish with this:
If you ever find yourself believing that you alone, please understand that you are not. Depression, in all of its forms, has a knack of blinding you from seeing the love, goodness and all things beautiful in your world that are worth living for. You have so many more amazing chapters of your story to write, and your life's story is worth every drop of ink it takes to write it
I honestly don't know how to feel after finishing this book, because there were quite a few emotions rushing through me throughout the journey of its reading. 'Exhausted' almost seems accurate.
I'll finish with this:
If you ever find yourself believing that you alone, please understand that you are not. Depression, in all of its forms, has a knack of blinding you from seeing the love, goodness and all things beautiful in your world that are worth living for. You have so many more amazing chapters of your story to write, and your life's story is worth every drop of ink it takes to write it
katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
Mental health, connections, decisions.
3.5 stars.
I'll state now that I have a slightly skewed view of the subject matter at the moment. A beloved family member committed suicide a few months ago. It's still upsetting me regularly, it hasn't left me, but it's a subject I was also wanting to read about: for insight, for general interest as a reader/reviewer into how others see the decision-making process. But please bear that in mind with some of my comments.
James sends a text message to everyone in his contact list from a train. Stating his intention to end his own life. He turns off his phone. So we see and he doesn't as people he knows all round the world read his statement and react in various ways. And we also see the guilt, the horror, the attempts made to contact him, to stop him.
The mother who feels she didn't give him the attention she gave his sister. The sister who fought with him and now lives half a world away. The ex-girlfriend who left him for another man. The best friend who fired him. The flatmate who barely talked to him.
Can anyone reach out to him, make contact, before it's too late?
James reflects on his recent life and how he came to this decision. This part was quite key for me - just what did it take to tip the balance for him? It wasn't one event, one person that causes James to make his mind up. A combination over time set him on his chosen path to the train station.
It does highlight a lot of issues for men in particular though - not only failing relationships but the fact that James is the stoic sort who keeps his feelings under wraps, who worries about body image and weight as much as anyone else, who is hurt by rudeness and slights, who slowly gives up hope and stops trying. This hit home for me, and the author brings these out. James is a lovely person - the sort who knows the answers to pub quiz questions, who likes listening to people and learning about them - he's not done anything 'wrong' in his life, it's just dealt him a bad hand in terms of circumstances. He speaks to a conductor on his train, someone who seems a little like him, Gina, who needs someone to talk to herself. Even in his own state of despair he still has the kind of nature that wants to help.
I liked the two perspectives: that of the person preparing to end his life and also those all suddenly reflecting on their own mistakes and errors in letting it get to this stage, realising they could have acted differently, realising they may have played a role in James' decision. It will resonate with many, that we all let contact slide, let mistakes fester, could do more to stay in touch and check on our friends.
This was all great. It was the denouement that riled me, heavily. Even without a personal connection to this story, the ending felt wrong, rushed and out of place with what had gone on before.
*SPOILER ALERT - SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH*
The suicide scene arrives of course, and with it someone who tries to stop James. Now is this either realistic, or what the reader would want to see - someone who stops a suicide attempt by doing the deed themselves? I couldn't believe what I was reading. It just felt like both a cop-out and not justified. His own prospects being better than hers, the incentive to help him, does one attempt to save someone else but then do the same thing?? It almost cheapened the efforts he'd gone to in justifying his own thought process, and cheapened the life of the new victim that we hadn't been able to see much of.
*END OF SPOILER*
Now surely you'd want the 'happy' ending of one of James' friends or family to mount a rescue and reach him in time? And there were certainly plenty of candidates and ways for them to connect with each other, work out where James was, and reach him. But does Watson give us that closure and pleasure, of regret, forgiveness, redemption and hope? I'll not say more, but I was NOT happy with his chosen conclusion.
While the subject brought out into the open is a good thing, in the current climate of rising mental health issues and my own personal experiences of similar situations, seeing personal feelings reflected in the characters was a positive, but the ending Watson gives us did not satisfy or soothe.
Great premise, brave subject matter, at times very funny and moving. Rushed, unexpected and a cheat of an ending.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
3.5 stars.
I'll state now that I have a slightly skewed view of the subject matter at the moment. A beloved family member committed suicide a few months ago. It's still upsetting me regularly, it hasn't left me, but it's a subject I was also wanting to read about: for insight, for general interest as a reader/reviewer into how others see the decision-making process. But please bear that in mind with some of my comments.
James sends a text message to everyone in his contact list from a train. Stating his intention to end his own life. He turns off his phone. So we see and he doesn't as people he knows all round the world read his statement and react in various ways. And we also see the guilt, the horror, the attempts made to contact him, to stop him.
The mother who feels she didn't give him the attention she gave his sister. The sister who fought with him and now lives half a world away. The ex-girlfriend who left him for another man. The best friend who fired him. The flatmate who barely talked to him.
Can anyone reach out to him, make contact, before it's too late?
James reflects on his recent life and how he came to this decision. This part was quite key for me - just what did it take to tip the balance for him? It wasn't one event, one person that causes James to make his mind up. A combination over time set him on his chosen path to the train station.
It does highlight a lot of issues for men in particular though - not only failing relationships but the fact that James is the stoic sort who keeps his feelings under wraps, who worries about body image and weight as much as anyone else, who is hurt by rudeness and slights, who slowly gives up hope and stops trying. This hit home for me, and the author brings these out. James is a lovely person - the sort who knows the answers to pub quiz questions, who likes listening to people and learning about them - he's not done anything 'wrong' in his life, it's just dealt him a bad hand in terms of circumstances. He speaks to a conductor on his train, someone who seems a little like him, Gina, who needs someone to talk to herself. Even in his own state of despair he still has the kind of nature that wants to help.
I liked the two perspectives: that of the person preparing to end his life and also those all suddenly reflecting on their own mistakes and errors in letting it get to this stage, realising they could have acted differently, realising they may have played a role in James' decision. It will resonate with many, that we all let contact slide, let mistakes fester, could do more to stay in touch and check on our friends.
This was all great. It was the denouement that riled me, heavily. Even without a personal connection to this story, the ending felt wrong, rushed and out of place with what had gone on before.
*SPOILER ALERT - SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH*
The suicide scene arrives of course, and with it someone who tries to stop James. Now is this either realistic, or what the reader would want to see - someone who stops a suicide attempt by doing the deed themselves? I couldn't believe what I was reading. It just felt like both a cop-out and not justified. His own prospects being better than hers, the incentive to help him, does one attempt to save someone else but then do the same thing?? It almost cheapened the efforts he'd gone to in justifying his own thought process, and cheapened the life of the new victim that we hadn't been able to see much of.
*END OF SPOILER*
Now surely you'd want the 'happy' ending of one of James' friends or family to mount a rescue and reach him in time? And there were certainly plenty of candidates and ways for them to connect with each other, work out where James was, and reach him. But does Watson give us that closure and pleasure, of regret, forgiveness, redemption and hope? I'll not say more, but I was NOT happy with his chosen conclusion.
While the subject brought out into the open is a good thing, in the current climate of rising mental health issues and my own personal experiences of similar situations, seeing personal feelings reflected in the characters was a positive, but the ending Watson gives us did not satisfy or soothe.
Great premise, brave subject matter, at times very funny and moving. Rushed, unexpected and a cheat of an ending.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
common_nonsense's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
gilpat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
suzanzanzan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
acosyreader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0