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florigen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
kennoncs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Suicide
yelandi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Suicide
aditi_agarwal's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.25
An easy read about a man battling depression and suicidal thoughts finding a purpose in life that makes him want to live.
I found it to be a good and simple read, just a tad bit unexciting and monotonous. There were a few emotional moments in between, especially when talking about the war, and the novel almost perfectly communicated the gradual transcendence of joylessness and hopelessness to purposefulness, however, despite that there were points when it fell completely flat.
I read the English translation of the book, and the purpose of the intermittent quotes seemed to have almost definitely been lost in translation. I also personally feel a lot of the moments would have probably been more impactful in the original Icelandic than in English.
I found it to be a good and simple read, just a tad bit unexciting and monotonous. There were a few emotional moments in between, especially when talking about the war, and the novel almost perfectly communicated the gradual transcendence of joylessness and hopelessness to purposefulness, however, despite that there were points when it fell completely flat.
I read the English translation of the book, and the purpose of the intermittent quotes seemed to have almost definitely been lost in translation. I also personally feel a lot of the moments would have probably been more impactful in the original Icelandic than in English.
Graphic: Self harm, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and War
markreadspages's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It’s quite short, which in many ways added to the charm. I thought the characters were well fleshed out for such a short book and developed nicely throughout. I would love to know how things progressed after the end of the book, but there’s also something nice about leaving it open to the imagination
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and War
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, and Death
Minor: Blood
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Hotel Silence, translated from the Icelandic by Brian FitzGibbon, is the story of a man all but ready to give up on life. There are content warnings for suicide/suicidal thoughts throughout this book. Jonás decides to go to some unnamed, far-flung, war-torn country to put an end to his life far from what remains of his family. While there, he gets sucked into the community as his handyman status at the ramshackle hotel he stays at brings other folks to his door for help. It sounds bleak, but there is some warmth and humour to it, and some hope. I didn’t connect with it as much as I hoped; the prose was quite sparse, which I do often enjoy, but I felt quite emotionally detached.
That could just be down to my frame of mind though, I wouldn’t NOT recommend it - wow I’m really selling this 😂 I did much prefer Miss Iceland. I’m just gonna stop writing now!
That could just be down to my frame of mind though, I wouldn’t NOT recommend it - wow I’m really selling this 😂 I did much prefer Miss Iceland. I’m just gonna stop writing now!
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide
michmoo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
laurajrogers's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.75
Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
angharad's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Suicide
kavat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Genocide
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