Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Meredith, Alone by Claire Alexander

19 reviews

my_a's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Self harm

Minor: Cancer

catrinlj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

3.5

I’m a bit conflicted about this book. I listened to the audiobook and I must admit that it was beautifully read by the narrator. However, I found the themes quite heavy and the amount of misery experienced by the main character felt a bit unrelenting after a certain point - it was not a book I necessarily looked forward to continuing during my commute! There were some moments of lighter humour, and Meredith and her friends were kind-hearted and thoughtful characters, but overall it felt a bit too slow and too heavy-going for me to be able to say I properly enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Miscarriage and Cancer

revengesrose's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, Cancer, and Death of parent

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This book, while such a good read, is also a super hard read. I recommend to only read this book in a good headspace, because it is very heavy and definitely not for everyone.

But it was for me amazingly. There are elements of hope and light in the darkness, such as found family and supportive friends. There is also very deep complex trauma and family relationships in this book, and the entirety of the effects and messy healing process are not concealed or tied in a pretty bow. We get the real, raw deal in this book. Not a lighthearted read, but a real read with a lot of depth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Violence, Death, Cancer, and Abandonment

mwhite0226's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape

okiecozyreader's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Interestingly, this book is similar to Burst, which I recently finished. Both are about a main character and her difficult relationship with her mother. They both deal with difficult topics and kind of end in somewhat similar ways.

This one however, also focuses on the relationship between sisters, in this complicated and kind of ugly family dynamic. Their mom is abusive and her sister is in a relationship with an abusive guy, who also abuses her. When that dynamic comes to an awful point, Meredith basically locks herself in her home, in which she hasn’t left for over 1000 days. Fortunately, she has a good friend who regularly checks on her. She is also curious about herself and her past, and is willing to make steps to move forward.

With found family and many likable characters, it makes this book with some difficult topics, very likable ones itself. It takes place in Glasgow and the area in which she lives is almost a character unto itself. I couldn’t stop thinking about Meredith. My mind would check on her throughout the day. She is a very unique and interesting character - likable even though she is living very much alone.

“Sometimes people don’t point out the obvious.” Day 1222

“…she manages to get a photo of me looking like a normal, fun-loving forty-year-old woman who might not be living her best life but is trying her hardest.” Day 1392

“Before we leave, I stare at her face, trying to find a tiny piece of love.” Day 1446

“I’ve always been interested in the distinction between loneliness and being alone.” Author Q&A

“To quote Virginia Woolf, “In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us.” The Joy of Being Alone

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Rape, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Cancer

brimcnull's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

I had no idea what to expect when picking up this book. I chose it because the cover was beautiful and it had a cat on it. 

Meredith, Alone is a dual timeline novel that features a lovable character with significant trauma, anxiety, and depression. I believe the author handles the book with care and puts people in Meredith’s life to support her as she processes her trauma. 

Meredith hasn’t left her apartment for three years, but wants that to change. This book is a testament to how therapy, good friends , and a cat, can help bring healing one moment at a time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cancer and Alcohol

sam_h's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Rape, and Mental illness

Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Self harm

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

thebakerbookworm's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Despite being an Eleanor Oliphant knock-off, this book was one I liked. It's not as good as Eleanor, but it still was a decent read that I would recommend. It's really hard to not compare it to Eleanor but I'm going to stop making the connections now so as not to do a disservice to this book!

If character-driven books are your jam, grab some bread and a knife and dig in. Meredith is instantly relatable—stuck at home with her cat (it'd be a dog for me lol) and her puzzles and her books and her online/remote job...except it's not Covid times and her seclusion is by choice. The story delves into why Meredith has chosen this life and how she slowly gets out of it. Flashbacks to her childhood are scattered throughout, and beware the content warnings because it does deal with past trauma. But at it's core, I think this is a hopeful book, one that looks forward instead of back. The friendships that Meredith manages to form, online and in person, are the heart of the story.

I definitely recommend the audio for this one—captivating and engaging, it was hard to put down!

Thanks to Libro.fm, Hachette Audio, and the author for my ALC.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Rape

Minor: Cancer

drraytay's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying

Moderate: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Car accident and Cancer