Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

48 reviews

cornfusedsnow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Murder, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

hello_linzie's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Classism, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Murder

strawberrymoonceci's review against another edition

informative reflective

4.5

This was an incredibly interesting book. She paints such a vivid picture in all the scenes, even the ones she didn't witness. I was very curious about the name of the book, I was also curious about the importance of this taxonomist. It was a gripping read, fascinating really. The audiobook version is wonderful, and I found the little nugget included at the end so heartwarming. This definitely made me want to read more book about natural history.

I absolutely did not expect the plot twists to include murder and eugenics! I think it's very interesting how Robert Starr Jordan went from allegedly covering up a murder, feeling wracked with guilt about it, to making eugenics his new purpose in life. What an absolute monster. The book is a masterclass in how to write a villain. In the beginning you hear mostly praise for him, there are definitely criticisms but you can see the author choosing to focus in his great capacity for perseverance, only for it to take a dark change, and for him to end up being responsible for the death, torture and mutilation (amongs other things) of tens of thousands in the US alone. Also, the US was the first country to make eugenics into national law. Which is so interesting considering the national narrative about it role in WW2. Not the least surprising though. I am surprised at how engaging this book was, considering I didn't like the author at all. Her writing is great, but she did not pass the vibe check. Also, fish dont exist as a category, that's the answer to the title. And Robert Starr Jordan can suck on that!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Torture, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Murder, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Rape, Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Infertility, and Medical trauma

Minor: Death and Child death

val_so_'s review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, Ableism, Suicide attempt, Hate crime, Sexism, Misogyny, Death, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Homophobia

Moderate: Confinement, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Xenophobia

lara112's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

Found it perhaps a bit slow for my style but the ending and generally just the whole book was magnificent. Made me feel like I had just been filled up with sunshine and wrapped in a big hug. Loved it xxx

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Murder, Ableism, Death, and Forced institutionalization

brttbwrs's review

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I would give this 100 stars if I could. Beautifully written, and a hopefulness that carries gravity. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Child death, Ableism, Rape, Pregnancy, Murder, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Colonisation

susannah_knox's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book surprised me over and over again.  I don't know how the author pulled off making all the disparate elements cohere, but she did.  A moving, deep yet delightful quick read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide attempt, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Animal death, Medical trauma, and Murder

kld2128's review

funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Murder

youngwessels's review

informative medium-paced

3.25

The chapters revolving around David Starr Jordan are a compelling look into a deeply troubled person’s experiences but the chapters revolving around Lulu Miller’s own life are just a sloggish look into a slightly less troubled person’s experiences.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, and Murder

killeenm's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

I LOVED this book. It’s pretty rare to find an author so talented that mixes biography, scientific journalism, and memoir so seamlessly. I didn’t know if I’d love it at the beginning; I thought the author was maybe coming from a perspective too different from mine. Turns out an atheist and a Catholic who doesn’t really believe that God has plans in their life might be coming from very similar places. Explored human relationships to the natural world, eugenics, psychology, taxonomy, disability, ableism, the purpose of life… I can’t recommend it enough. This book was absolutely masterful.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt