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em_readz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fatphobia
booknerdsinmn's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Fatphobia and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, and Car accident
gretchotter's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Homophobia
stoola_pz's review against another edition
- 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
if the first 10 minutes of “up” was a book, this is the only book I know that has succeeded at being both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fatphobia and Homophobia
bridgetkay's review against another edition
The character is problematic as all hell and I really have no interest in a story centred on a white man who’s surrounded by people who aren’t white men as supporting characters to some kind of redemption arc. Any time I attempted to read this, it put me in a bad mood. So for self care purposes, I will not be finishing this.
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
tmickey's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Infertility
fazazzle's review against another edition
- 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
That being said, I’m not sure that this book says anything remarkably unique about grief or friendship or life that will really stick with me. (Not sure if the translation into English is at fault here, but I truly cannot think of a single stand-out quote). Mostly I’ll remember crying over the characters and the circumstances they find themselves in. If you think you are suppressing any emotions and need a cry, this is the book for you! (Obviously, beware the CWs, this book actually is not for everyone. If I wasn’t already invested in the story, I might not have finished reading it myself).
I think that Backman’s skill of slowly revealing character backgrounds through flashbacks as the book progresses is really what makes the characters feel so fleshed-out and real. Don’t even talk to me about the Jimmy background reveal - yes, I was crying.
Anyways, I don’t think I will read this book again anytime soon unless I really need to get the tears flowing for some random reason.
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Car accident, and Pregnancy
vegabela's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child death, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism and Homophobia
a_muggle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, and Dementia
Minor: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Medical trauma