Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

50 reviews

hanwanreads's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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id give this book a 10/5 if i could

actually an insanely beautiful depiction of art and life and pain and joy

i’m starstruck and literally procrastinated finishing the book (paused at 99% for a bit) because i didn’t want the book to end and for the time to come when i have to depart from the world the characters live in

but i suppose they’ll all be in my heart somewhere still

i think i could literally write essays on this book — the book will see me again soon i hope

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Abandonment

Minor: Animal death

gingerbirder's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Ouch my heart. This book is so beautiful and so heartbreaking all at once. But then again, so is life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness

ksilvio's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism

kalafern's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous challenging dark sad

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol

wburchjones's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny inspiring medium-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

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You can’t help but fall in love with these characters. I was excited to read this and struggled between not wanting to put it down and wanting to “savour it” because I didn’t want it to end. I’m glad I have my own copy because I know I’ll come back to read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization

woolfinbooks's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence

Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol

The abuse isn't the main focus of the book, but there are some scenes detailing various forms of abuse.

gsmallwood63's review against another edition

3.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

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I’m a big fan of this author but this book missed the mark for me.  The ageism and stereotypes were too much. The story was predictable with no surprises.  

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship

dsk3's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol

mnminsd's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Fredrik Backman has not only such a unique way of seeing the world but also of writing stories that inspires you to reflect on and appreciate the transcendent interconnections between ordinary moments and ordinary lives. I wish I could see the world in this way all the time, but I can’t so I read Backman’s books instead.

I finished the book sobbing and laughing AT THE SAME TIME! How it is possible to elicit such strong distinct emotions in me is beyond my understanding, but that is the beauty of Backman’s writing.

Once again, I must recognize Neil Smith for the incredible translation into English. If something was lost in translation, I don’t even think it matters because it is perfect as it is.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Abandonment

littlerthings's review against another edition

3.0

emotional hopeful reflective

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"Art is what we leave of ourselves in other people."

Very mixed feelings about this. Some lines and bits were really beautiful but overall the writing wasn't for me. Too many hyperboles, metaphors and puns in every sentence, it all felt quite over the top for me. 
Also not very politically sensitive (ableist language was very present amongst other things)
I loved the found family trope though!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement

Minor: Body shaming