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holliflower's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Beautiful poetic writing throughout. At times excellently captures what it is like living with depression. However like some of the other reviewers have mentioned, sometimes the dialogue felt ‘cringey’ and, for me, it ended too abruptly without explaining so many things. I was so invested but I’m left not sure why and how certain things happened at the end (perhaps that is the point, but I felt it could have been more poignant if certain parts of the journey were explored further). I wouldn’t read this if you are currently in a dark place.
I did however enjoy how the story moves from past to present and the authors style of writing.
I did however enjoy how the story moves from past to present and the authors style of writing.
mmingie's review against another edition
3.0
The book was good, but the author loves the word "lugubrious" a suspicious amount. Like you know when you learn a new word and try to work it into conversations so it sticks in your brain? It felt like that.
Quick read, interesting but a lot felt missing, or glossed over, especially towards the end. It was rushed more than quick perhaps
Quick read, interesting but a lot felt missing, or glossed over, especially towards the end. It was rushed more than quick perhaps
ashleycmms's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Drug use
lscheibal's review against another edition
3.0
I had been really looking forward to this book, especially since the description said it was similar to A Man Called Ove. Although I didn’t get that similarity, I did feel like this was a book I had already read. From the first few chapters I knew how it would end, even if at the end, I felt that the financial logistics ended up not making sense.
It was a nice story, but it was on the dull side.
It was a nice story, but it was on the dull side.
bukolayemi's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.75
The Selfless Act of Breathing
By JJ Bola
With the opening line “I quit my job, I am taking my life savings - $9,021 - and when it runs out, I am going to kill myself.” JJ Bola had me captivated from the beginning.
Michael is a young Black man living in London, he is originally from Congo. Michael is successful and loved but slighted unhinged, he does not feel he belongs on this earth and is determined to end it all.
But first, travel! Michael is trying to transit borders both in body and soul. Physically he is going to America to enjoy his last days.
The story goes back and forth between The States and London. All the while, his life savings is being counted down, is this the value of his life? The sum of his life?
While in London, he teaches young boys. Has a chance to influence and guide them. He has a mother who loves and cares for him and he has friends and a love interest.
I loved the beautiful prose, the lyrical nature of the writing. The play on words that is the title and the message in this book. The twists at the end got me screaming “wait, what?”
I love literary fiction. I love books by poets. There are poems and letters in this book as well and lots of beautiful sentences. I’ll share a couple with you.
“So, this is what love is, to be burdened yet weightless, to be bound yet free.”
“If love is a field, then romance is the rain that grows the flowers.”
lilirosemb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
isabella_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
rworrall78's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
To (mis)quote Mark Kermode, I'd rather see someone try to do something original and miss the mark than for them to play it safe.
They were bits of this book that worked brilliantly. The main character with a limited amount of money to spend before he plans to kill himself. The abrupt ends to some of the chapters followed by the bank balance. Even the very hit and miss flights of imagery and philosophy sometimes really hit the mark.
But there was so much that just didn't make sense.
<Spoiler>why did Pastor Baptiste kill himself out of nowhere. Why did Michael come back? Why did the headteacher not say a thing when he clearly gives her the speech of a desperate man? Why was Dwayne killed, why was Michael jealous of Jalil's sham marriage? Why does Belle compare compare Michael favourably to a woman, for him to behave exactly like a stereotypical man in the very next chapter. Also, man falls deeply in love with sex worker and then tells her to stop doing her job...I think that was the point I really checked out. What was the Mr Barnes subplot about? there were hints at some really important themes like alienation from heritage, the devastation of war, the expectation and the sacrifice of parents. They were never fully developed. I didn't feel like I understood why Michael felt the was way he did. I know there doesn't have to be a why, but it felt like there were contributing factors that were ignored.
I did get a real sense of distance and dissociation. It made Michael behave despicably particularly towards the women in his life. But maybe that was the message.
All in all interesting and ambitious but a bit of a frustrating read.
They were bits of this book that worked brilliantly. The main character with a limited amount of money to spend before he plans to kill himself. The abrupt ends to some of the chapters followed by the bank balance. Even the very hit and miss flights of imagery and philosophy sometimes really hit the mark.
But there was so much that just didn't make sense.
<Spoiler>why did Pastor Baptiste kill himself out of nowhere. Why did Michael come back? Why did the headteacher not say a thing when he clearly gives her the speech of a desperate man? Why was Dwayne killed, why was Michael jealous of Jalil's sham marriage? Why does Belle compare compare Michael favourably to a woman, for him to behave exactly like a stereotypical man in the very next chapter. Also, man falls deeply in love with sex worker and then tells her to stop doing her job...I think that was the point I really checked out. What was the Mr Barnes subplot about? there were hints at some really important themes like alienation from heritage, the devastation of war, the expectation and the sacrifice of parents. They were never fully developed. I didn't feel like I understood why Michael felt the was way he did. I know there doesn't have to be a why, but it felt like there were contributing factors that were ignored.
I did get a real sense of distance and dissociation. It made Michael behave despicably particularly towards the women in his life. But maybe that was the message.
All in all interesting and ambitious but a bit of a frustrating read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Violence, Suicide, and Sexual content
allons_y8's review against another edition
3.0
Although the writing was stunning and poignant at times. At times it also felt a little caricature esk and even cringe in its representation of mental health. I found the book generally confusing and a rollercoaster of emotions that didn't make total sense. I also found the end unsatisfying. However there was some meaningful prose which i very much enjoyed, it seemed to be depressing for the sake of being depressing.
ciarafrances's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5