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A review by mxbluet18
The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand by Gregory Galloway
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
3.0
"It's an answer," I said, "but maybe not the right one."
~
The trigger warnings for The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand include: self harm, in depth discussions of various methods of suicide, and frequent mention of drinking alcohol.
☆
☆
This is the second time I've tried to read this, and it took me over two weeks to actually finish it. And not because it isn't a good, well written book, but because I've just been in a bit of a reading slump and dealing with other things so I've not been wanting to read it.
~
I don't really know what to think or say about this book. It's well written, and the characters are well developed and detailed. But aside from that, I don't know. I felt like there wasn't much substance in it beyond a severely depressed main character who makes 39 different attempts on his life, but remains alive each time. None of that is ever actually explained, maybe the attempts just failed, maybe he's unable to die. I don't know, and that leaves me feeling unsatisfied.
~
I do feel as though the descriptions of every method he tried were partly unnecessary, since you get the general message that he's depressed and doesn't want to be alive, or at the very least, doesn't want the life he has to begin with. And yeah, through the book, and by the end that view changes a little and he's less inclined to attempt again, he suggests he isn't called to it to same degree anymore. But ultimately I don't know what to think. And it isn't a book I'm ever going to read again.
~
The trigger warnings for The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand include: self harm, in depth discussions of various methods of suicide, and frequent mention of drinking alcohol.
☆
☆
This is the second time I've tried to read this, and it took me over two weeks to actually finish it. And not because it isn't a good, well written book, but because I've just been in a bit of a reading slump and dealing with other things so I've not been wanting to read it.
~
I don't really know what to think or say about this book. It's well written, and the characters are well developed and detailed. But aside from that, I don't know. I felt like there wasn't much substance in it beyond a severely depressed main character who makes 39 different attempts on his life, but remains alive each time. None of that is ever actually explained, maybe the attempts just failed, maybe he's unable to die. I don't know, and that leaves me feeling unsatisfied.
~
I do feel as though the descriptions of every method he tried were partly unnecessary, since you get the general message that he's depressed and doesn't want to be alive, or at the very least, doesn't want the life he has to begin with. And yeah, through the book, and by the end that view changes a little and he's less inclined to attempt again, he suggests he isn't called to it to same degree anymore. But ultimately I don't know what to think. And it isn't a book I'm ever going to read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Alcohol