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itsbumley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Alcohol, Grief, Blood, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcoholism, Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, and Vomit
libreadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Stalking, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and Suicide
jennifermreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I picked up Death of a Bookseller during Indie Bookstore Day 2024. This definitely was a “title buy” with the words “death” and “bookseller” screaming from the cover! And, with the bookstore setting, there are a plethora of book titles sprinkled within the context of the story. If you are not careful, your TBR will grow exponentially.
The dual perspective novel will have you rethinking every true crime podcast, novel, and TV show you have ever consumed. With one character obsessed with serial killers and one character begging us to remember the victims, readers are pulled back and forth, teetering on the edge of sense and sanity. I love when I find myself questioning the reliability of a narrator. I also found myself jumping between “I know what is going to happen” and “whoa…maybe I don’t.”
An enjoyable diversion with a unique twist on serial killer storylines.
Graphic: Alcoholism and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
Several of the instances of vomiting could be eating disorder related. I do not have personal experience with eating disorders and had trouble identifying if it was grief, alcohol, or disorder leading to episodes of vomit.sierraclimbs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed reading it & I think it is an interesting commentary on true crime & the culture that surrounds it.
I’m excited to discuss it with my bookclub because I think it will bring up a lot of interesting conversations.
The thing I found the most interesting is maybe a bit of a spoiler but,
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Stalking, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Vomit
This book is meant to make you uncomfortable. I wouldn’t say it glorifies anything, at least not without contradicting it in the next chapter.elgin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism and Addiction
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Dysphoria, and Bullying
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Violence, Excrement, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Vomit, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Blood, Murder, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Mental illness
wowsmeows's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"Reading is a way of life for some customers, the
kind of customers who buy more than they read, who behave as though 'bookworm' is as inherent as their blood type or their astrological sign."
Death of a Bookseller is about two characters told through their alternating POVs. There's Roach, a creepy true crime fanatic and Laura, who is unhealthily dealing with her traumatic past. The pair work together in a bookshop are are both unlikeable in their own unique ways. The book explores the idea of hating someone so much that it turns into an obsession and morphs into stalking. As the title suggests, it does delve into a lot of morbid topics with a lot of grotesque language and descriptions throughout. I'd recommend checking out content warnings for this read. However, it is a very slow read and because we have the split POV, I dont think I would personally class it as mystery or a thriller novel as we know what both characters are doing and thinking at all times.
What I I did enjoy was that it had some interesting ideas around the ethics of true crime as a genre. It really made me think about how healthy it really is to consume true crime content. I also thought the book was well written and I thought both characters had distinct personalities that shone through in the text.
I will say that I did dislike the ending and I did feel a bit frustrated by it.
Graphic: Stalking, Vomit, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, and Gore
lottieingham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Stalking, Vomit, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
mj_86's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Death of parent, and Stalking
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, and Vomit
wrackspurtt's review against another edition
Graphic: Death of parent, Stalking, Alcohol, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Vomit
partly_stars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was a dark read that still felt emotionally grounded in the reality. Both women are kinda fucked up in their own ways. Laura - self destructive in her grief and loneliness, drawning her pain in alcohol. It did really feel like an interesting portrayal of what trauma can do to a person. Roach - truly a creep with obsessive interest in Laura. Justyfing everything she does in her mind, bot being abke to comprehend emotional states of other people.
Both of them flawed but also with things that make the reader emotionally invested in them. One a car goin full speed towards a cliff, the other - a creepy-crawler that lives in her own version of reality.
I could abalyse them both which goes to say that I feel that it was quite a belivable portrayal if the characters. People felt real, the discussion about true crime media is to be had, the backdrop of running a chain bookstore is interesting. I can see that the author worked in Waterstones for a while haha
Would recommend
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Vomit