Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin

68 reviews

bisexualbookshelf's review

challenging emotional funny fast-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

3.0

Emily Austin’s "Interesting Facts About Space" introduces readers to the quirky, anxiety-ridden, and darkly humorous character of Enid. From the very first pages, Enid’s personality leaps off the page, captivating readers with her relatable fears and unique coping mechanisms. While the book grapples with complex themes like PTSD and autism, it also dives into the emotional intricacies of human relationships and personal growth.

Enid’s character is a rich tapestry of contradictions. Her anxiety and dark humor make her both relatable and compelling, while her paranoia and morally dubious choices—like having an affair with another woman’s wife—add layers of complexity. Austin’s portrayal of Enid’s struggle to navigate her various roles to appear 'normal' is particularly poignant and indicative of autistic traits, which resonates deeply with neurodivergent readers.

One of the most touching aspects of the novel is Enid's relationship with her mother. This bond provides a stabilizing force in Enid’s tumultuous life, highlighting the importance of familial support in the face of mental health challenges. The depiction of Enid’s mother’s grief and her efforts to raise a disabled, neurodivergent child on her own adds a layer of emotional depth to the story.

The narrative’s structure, however, is a bit uneven. The first third of the book feels overloaded with various subplots—Enid's half-sisters, her job, her mother, her paranoia, her self-loathing, and her dating life. This initially makes the story feel disjointed and slow to start. Yet, once the focus sharpens,

particularly around the second date with Polly when Joan appears

, the pace and tension build effectively.

While the book excels in many areas, it also stumbles in some significant ways.

The subplot involving Vin, who secretly stalks Enid under the guise of concern, is particularly problematic.

This revelation feels like an unnecessary twist that undermines the book’s earlier achievements.

Vin's actions, which include gaslighting and dismissing Enid’s fears, are deeply troubling and, for some readers, can overshadow the book’s positive aspects.

Another point of contention is the portrayal of Cognitive Reprocessing Therapy (CRT). As a trauma therapist in training, I find this therapy controversial due to its potential to retraumatize patients by forcing them to confront walled-off memories. While Austin’s representation might be accurate to her or Enid’s experience, it risks misleading readers about the general efficacy and safety of such treatments.

In summary, "Interesting Facts About Space" shines in its representation of autism and PTSD, and its exploration of Enid's inner world and relationships. The dark humor and unique quirks of Enid’s character are major strengths. However, the problematic subplot

with Vin

and the contentious depiction of therapy methods detract from the overall impact. Despite these flaws, Austin's ability to create a deeply felt, introspective narrative makes this book a worthwhile read for those interested in complex, character-driven stories.

📖 Recommended For: Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives, Fans of dark humor and quirky characters, Admirers of psychological and emotional depth, Those interested in autism and PTSD representation, Lovers of intricate and metaphorical storytelling.

🔑 Key Themes: Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms, Familial Relationships and Support, Paranoia and Intuition, Self-Discovery and Personal Growth, Autistic and PTSD Experiences.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Bullying

Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt and Self harm

dev921's review

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Grief, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail

spec_tacles's review

challenging dark funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Homophobia, Stalking, and Grief

ehwhateverest's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

4.75

This book feels personal. The rambling of a paranoid lesbian that somehow felt relatable despite not having all that much in common with this character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Sexual content

jen_sometimes's review

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

katiewhocanread's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Ableism, Bullying, Stalking, Mental illness, and Homophobia

Minor: Self harm, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Suicide attempt

starrfishandcoffee's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Quirky, unique, hilarious, and an excellent main character. What more can you ask for? 
Highly recommend the audiobook!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia

lcg527's review against another edition

funny sad tense fast-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, and Pregnancy

kelkelkelkelly's review

dark emotional funny inspiring 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

4.5

I loved this book so much. Enid is a vivid, authentic character that bundles her quirks, flaws, desires and fears together in a beautifully authentic way. The cast of characters are all unique and feel very real, and the writing style has this clipped, frank style that really suits Enid’s POV. The plot does hinge on miscommunication tropes, but it works with the relationships in the story. There are some unexpectedly chilling and creepy moments that make this a real page-turner. This story will stay with me for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, and Violence

bugle's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

I laughed, I cried (several times), I didn’t want it to end. I found Enid extremely relatable and the story engaging. The ending was neat and meaningful in a really satisfying way, especially against the (familiar) chaos of Enid’s thought clouds. I’m really grateful I found this book and can’t wait to share it with friends.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Homophobia

Minor: Pregnancy and Death of parent