Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Memorial by Bryan Washington

72 reviews

charlotte123's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad

• 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcohol

emmehooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I was not a fan of this book until I realized it’s more about the journey then the outcome. The reader is supposed to create emotional subtext and themes in the blank space Washington leaves. A wonderful narrative that uses 2 perspectives, a lot of memories, and the present thought to evoke empathy, thoughts of subtle change, and what it means to build a life that’s okay, but not easy or perfect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Body shaming

greatu's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

nana_sillylilbooks's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad slow-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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

remie's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment

cheye13's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.0

This was a five star read right up until the end. I'm not usually picky about endings, but this one ultimately left me wondering about the purpose of the story. Which was probably the purpose of said ending! But still irks me.

Beautiful writing, engaging and deep characters. Would not be opposed to a reread – maybe bc I read it in audio, some details went over my head that would've made the ending land better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Minor: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Vomit, and Alcohol

lizakhins's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer

Minor: Fatphobia

areadingstan's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing 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

4.0

I thought this was a very calming read, and it felt very realistic for a contemporary novel, not trying to be anything it wasn’t but a story of a couple figuring out their issues and dealing with other problems in their life. 

My favourite character was definitely Mitsuko, she was a very motherly mother, and well-written. 

I got through Benson’s passages very quickly because of the short chapters but I liked how Mike’s chapters were structured differently, it really made me feel as if I was hearing it from their separate perspectives and it allowed me to see things from both sides. 

I’ll definitely be reading more of Washington’s work. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent

gabbygarcia's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Grief

Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

lainemill's review against another edition

reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Cancer