Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson

28 reviews

dosxhime's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

WHOWEE

I came for the creepy Stranger Things Vibes, but this book really didn't give what it needed to be gave. 

This novel is more of a coming of age set in a small town. The themes of memory being malleable and prone to change depending on the person was an interesting idea to explore and it fit well with how Jake began to grow up. This was a quick read and I really enjoyed the ghost stories that Calvin told, whch link to his own trauma. 

I will have to deduct a few stars because I was hoping that it was scarier and more thriller, but overall I was satisfied with this. 

I definitely recommend it if you want summer-ween vibes. 

3.25 / 5 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Death, Child death, and Mental illness

imcourtneymarie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, and Car accident

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, and Medical content

Minor: Grief, Pregnancy, and Self harm

melmoony's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Bullying

emmaruth223's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Blood, Sexual violence, Bullying, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Violence

maddycumerlato's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This is such a great read! As a Canadian girl, I was shockingly comforted by how authentically Canadian this book was, and will forever remember Craig Davidson as an author who can make me feel at home in a book that has literally nothing to do with anyone like me. 

Jake and his family live in Niagara Falls, AKA Cataract City, where nothing happens unless you make it happen. Together with his uncle Calvin, Jake’s personal paranormal guide, and new kids in town Billy and Dove, The Saturday Night Ghost Club is born to explore nearly forgotten mysteries in this sleepy town. 

Everything about Davidson’s description of Niagara Falls (even the gross parts) makes me feel like i was wrapped in a blanket. It was so easy to get lost in this town and feel as though I belonged there with the Bakers and the Yellowbirds. The characters in the novel were sweet and perfect for a coming of age, especially Jake, the awkward protagonist trying to understand friendship, love, and family all at once. 

I was stunned by the level of thought put into Calvin’s backstory.

Who could have thought that the zany bastard could turn out to be such a heartbroken man who’s experienced so much loss thay he couldn’t bear to live with it, instead projecting it unconsciously onto mysterious stories of people long past?

But all characters had real depth and were joys to live with over the course of the book!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Child death, Dementia, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Murder

adinie's review

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death, and Car accident

sprouts's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness

kristenm's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

What a surprise!! This book was not what I anticipated it to be, but I loved what it was. Uniquely Canadian at times, this book hit close to home (quite literally!!). Truly this is a story about growing up and it made me realize I wish I never had.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness