Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

4 reviews

tsunami935's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.5

The characters and story are so well done. Dostoevsky yaps too much sometimes though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Murder, Mental illness, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Rape, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pedophilia

alexandra_skl's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A sad yet beautiful exploration of the dangers of being kind and good in a cruel society. With thought provoking discussions about religion, the Russian spirit, and morality. It also makes a wonderful use out of Christ allegory and literary allusions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Classism, Medical content, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness

urfavpunk's review

dark funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Death, Dementia, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Stalking

Minor: Grief

laurikas's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-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

4.0

I really enjoyed this classic - it has everything you want from a well written, well constructed story, full of jumpy characters and equal doses of drama. Oh the drama, I absolutely love it! Oh the ending, could it be any more remarkable?!

I must confess it took me a while to get through because I've been so busy, and this book is not one to read late at night. It demands your attention, your reflections.

Now I read this in Portuguese, so here goes one of my favourite parts...

Houve uma altura em que me honrou com a sua confianca. Se calhar, ja se esqueceu de mim. Como aconteceu que eu esteja a escrever-lhe agora? Nao sei, mas tive o desejo imperioso de faze-la lembrar-se de mim, precisamente a si. Muitas vezes senti que precisava das tres, mas das tres so a si imaginava. Preciso muito, mas muito, de si. Nao tenho nada a escrever-lhe de mim, nada a contar-lhe. Nem o queria; desejo apenas que esteja muito feliz. Esta feliz? Era so isso que queria dizer-lhe.

Poderoso. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent