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felixhenry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol
badmom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Murder, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
epeolatrist's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
2.25
My Heart and Other Black Holes was a book that I found on amazon for cheap. I needed something to read and I needed something cheap, so I thought: why not? After reading this, I've come to realize that there were many reasons why I should not have bought this book.
First things first, suicide is a serious topic and it should never be taken lightly or romanticized. If there's one thing that I found this book has in abundance, it's romanticization of suicide and depression. Aysel's depression is valid and I understand why she feels depressed given that she is somewhat ignored and lonely at home. I'm never one to look down on someone for saying that they suffer from depression or to say that their suffering is invalid or that "someone has it much worse." However, I feel that most of Aysel's depression stems from what happened with her father and the fact that her mother took no extra steps to look after her daughter after such a traumatic experience makes me really angry.
Now we can discuss Roman. While I find Aysel to be the most problematic character, I find Roman strangely likable. He is no doubt charming, but a master manipulator. I absolutely despised that Warga chose to use Aysel and Roman's relationship to romanticize suicide through their encouragement toward each other. I have suffered from various mental health problems and I can strongly say that I would never encourage someone, friend or stranger, to hurt themselves in any way no matter how much they wanted to. I have plenty of friends and family who would say the exact same.
SPOILERS:
Finally, it really got on my nerves that Aysel kind of cured herself through her love for Roman. That's not how it works. Roman's character is much more realistic, as he makes an attempt even after Aysel backs out. To me, that shows some reality that having a good relationship doesn't always make the pain go away. However, Aysel's falling in love with Roman practically cured her. As someone who has tried to be in relationships while I'm not mentally sound, I know for a fact that sometimes relationships make things even harder for someone who is suicidal. I just hate that Aysel and Roman engaged in a relationship in which they encouraged each other to commit suicide. I find it appalling, to be honest. I'm not interested in books that take mental illness so lightly. I'll definitely be donating this book. I don't even want it anywhere near me. (I know that I'm harsh, but I have strong opinions about mental illness and suicide and when they are made fun of or romanticized, I get really heated.)
First things first, suicide is a serious topic and it should never be taken lightly or romanticized. If there's one thing that I found this book has in abundance, it's romanticization of suicide and depression. Aysel's depression is valid and I understand why she feels depressed given that she is somewhat ignored and lonely at home. I'm never one to look down on someone for saying that they suffer from depression or to say that their suffering is invalid or that "someone has it much worse." However, I feel that most of Aysel's depression stems from what happened with her father and the fact that her mother took no extra steps to look after her daughter after such a traumatic experience makes me really angry.
Now we can discuss Roman. While I find Aysel to be the most problematic character, I find Roman strangely likable. He is no doubt charming, but a master manipulator. I absolutely despised that Warga chose to use Aysel and Roman's relationship to romanticize suicide through their encouragement toward each other. I have suffered from various mental health problems and I can strongly say that I would never encourage someone, friend or stranger, to hurt themselves in any way no matter how much they wanted to. I have plenty of friends and family who would say the exact same.
SPOILERS:
Finally, it really got on my nerves that Aysel kind of cured herself through her love for Roman. That's not how it works. Roman's character is much more realistic, as he makes an attempt even after Aysel backs out. To me, that shows some reality that having a good relationship doesn't always make the pain go away. However, Aysel's falling in love with Roman practically cured her. As someone who has tried to be in relationships while I'm not mentally sound, I know for a fact that sometimes relationships make things even harder for someone who is suicidal. I just hate that Aysel and Roman engaged in a relationship in which they encouraged each other to commit suicide. I find it appalling, to be honest. I'm not interested in books that take mental illness so lightly. I'll definitely be donating this book. I don't even want it anywhere near me. (I know that I'm harsh, but I have strong opinions about mental illness and suicide and when they are made fun of or romanticized, I get really heated.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
emmalynomohundro's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Grief
chelseeaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Child death, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
716a_m's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide attempt
ecravens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Alcohol, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders
mochiimin_jimin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love how this book is really relatable and it really makes you think about how life is just a matter of perspective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief and Panic attacks/disorders
spostma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
janalg's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I don't know what possessed me to pick up this book in the first place..
This has very simple but pleasant writing and so many important things to tell but fumbles it so, oh so hard.
If I was still a suicidal teenager I would read this a couple more times in hopes of cringing myself to death.
Then again, my teenage self would probably have fallen for this mess of a story.
Props for processing your trauma in this (arguably) healthy way, but the "you just need the right person" bullshit is fucking infuriating to me.
This has very simple but pleasant writing and so many important things to tell but fumbles it so, oh so hard.
If I was still a suicidal teenager I would read this a couple more times in hopes of cringing myself to death.
Then again, my teenage self would probably have fallen for this mess of a story.
Props for processing your trauma in this (arguably) healthy way, but the "you just need the right person" bullshit is fucking infuriating to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm, Bullying, and Alcohol