Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the language, how poetic it was… BUT. Even though I think I did understand some of what Iris was going through, having myself been depressed and detached from the world for many years, her character was just so tedious, so self-absorbed and hypocritical that I almost left the book midway through. The male characters were as idealistic as the female ones were awful. I hate that the women there were mostly shown as shallow and pretentious which didn’t seem true for men there. Anyway, it seemed to me that both male and female characters were lacking depth but that was maybe because it was seen through Iris’ lense. Her depression also struck me as a “privileged” one - hardly anyone could get away with all the shit she pulled off and afford to not have a job for so long.
I do think the book overall was an interesting read and it did make me feel desperate and hopeless the way Iris was feeling for most of it. If that was the point, to show the struggle of depression and envelop the reader in the same terrifying nothingness, good (and cruel). I still wish there was more balance in the representation of characters and perhaps less despair (and mind you, I read “A Little Life” twice, I delight in prose that rips me open). Unlike Yanagihara’s novel, this one could’ve been a bit shorter, imho.
I do think the book overall was an interesting read and it did make me feel desperate and hopeless the way Iris was feeling for most of it. If that was the point, to show the struggle of depression and envelop the reader in the same terrifying nothingness, good (and cruel). I still wish there was more balance in the representation of characters and perhaps less despair (and mind you, I read “A Little Life” twice, I delight in prose that rips me open). Unlike Yanagihara’s novel, this one could’ve been a bit shorter, imho.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Surprisingly insightful look into the mind of a depressed young adult. Felt very realistic in the destructive behaviours and thought patterns one might have in such a situation.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was a tricky one to rate. as someone who has had similar struggles and feelings it was a horrible read that is quite triggering at points, which i guess makes it well written?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Toxic friendship
Minor: Death
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very human.
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hmm. I don’t know how to describe this really. It was relatable (mental health-wise) and certain parts and sentences were very spot on - and not just from a relatability pov but from a construction pov, if that makes sense. This story was structured very succinctly and truthfully and sometimes very stunningly so and with such care.
I like that it leaned into the confusion and heaviness and the unbearable of depression (or mental health struggles in general).
It felt like two realities in one and at once, and intentionally so. Ofc there’s the masking and then everything (or the nothingness) going on on the inside. I like that we see the beginnings of the unraveling/despair, how the depression overwhelms and has a life of its own. How nothing is linear, how it matters who we surround ourselves with and what that says about us, and how vulnerable we allow ourselves to be - not just in front of others but with ourselves most of all. At least as a start. But yeah, I’m not in a position to be preachy about this at all. I’m just saying that I felt it did a good job in the chaos and uncomfortable and confrontational. Even when it was subtle or only happening in Iris’ inner monologue
I’m still not sure how I feel about George taking her back. Just bc his mother went through sth similar? I guess it makes it believable but there are things I think might be a bit convenient. Eg. Patrick sleeping with Sara so Iris can sort of let go of her guilt but I feel like she has to sit with this heartbreak she caused for him. Even though they weren’t good together and I agree with her that they might just not have been compatible. Buuut I don’t think Patrick was as bad a person as he was made out to be. And I feel like she got away with a lot. She made bad decisions but also lacked support from anyone other than George (and that was a little too romance-book for me bc he very much seemed too good to be true, let’s be honest).
I like that it leaned into the confusion and heaviness and the unbearable of depression (or mental health struggles in general).
It felt like two realities in one and at once, and intentionally so. Ofc there’s the masking and then everything (or the nothingness) going on on the inside. I like that we see the beginnings of the unraveling/despair, how the depression overwhelms and has a life of its own. How nothing is linear, how it matters who we surround ourselves with and what that says about us, and how vulnerable we allow ourselves to be - not just in front of others but with ourselves most of all. At least as a start. But yeah, I’m not in a position to be preachy about this at all. I’m just saying that I felt it did a good job in the chaos and uncomfortable and confrontational. Even when it was subtle or only happening in Iris’ inner monologue
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes