Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

106 reviews

mattyvreads's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I am not okay.... 

Heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful. Infused with so much humanity.

One of the best books I have read in a long time. I adored every moment of it. Sally Rooney is the GOAT. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence

rowanelisa's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol

somerfieldmollie's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Classism

isabelle_boknert's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Trots att det ofta var mörkt, ville jag hänga länge i Ivans och Peters Dublin. Tur då att boken är lång och låter oss göra det! Jag uppskattar karaktärernas komplexitet och att alla tydligt har bra och dåliga sidor. Margarets perspektiv var behövligt, om inte annat för att hon är en kvinna och inte är lika självcentrerad.  

Jag vet inte helt vad jag tycker om stream of consciousness-stilen; ibland var jag lite förvirrad över om det jag läste var en del av en dialog eller monolog, men det gjorde också de vardagliga händelserna och tankarna mer relaterbara. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Death of parent

Minor: Vomit, Religious bigotry, Pandemic/Epidemic

carolineo's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent

pat_sc's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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What a crushing way to explain that relationships of any kind are not in fact always easy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent

readingwithasha's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I was completely blown away by Intermezzo. Not only did I find it an incredibly accurate depiction of an Autistic persons struggles with communication and relationships, but I thought she also beautifully illustrated trauma, substance use, and the never ending complexity of relationships. 

Her use of sentence structure is nothing short of masterful, she is able to capture the unique voices of all her characters. 

It was clear from the beginning that

Peter and Ivan’s relationship was the driver of the story. I haven’t seen another book that captures sibling relationships, in all its messy and broken interactions. I loved Ivan and Margaret’s relationship, particularly how it really delved into questions of choice, agency, and gender. I appreciate how Rooney used Peter and Naomi’s relationship as a contrast, flipping the gender roles and revealing the underlying dynamics. I appreciate her giving us an optimistic, healing ending: we all need each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol

Moderate: Ableism

jessdouglas's review against another edition

4.25

emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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my favorite Sally Rooney that I’ve read so far. I really enjoyed the richness of the family and relationship dynamics— it felt incredibly real and lived-in, grief and all. I would’ve enjoyed more time with Margaret and Ivan’s story and I’m curious about their future. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism

sierracaine's review against another edition

3.75

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cancer

loopread's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is embarrassing to admit but before this, I had been actively avoiding any and ALL of Sally Rooney’s works because of her well-known no use of quotation marks + hit or miss writing style and I feel really stupid for that now.

In Peter’s POV, I thought it was absolutely horrendous. I was genuinely shocked and thought the rest of the book would be that way. In the span of only 16 or so pages, I debated on sending it through the sky or just giving it away. When I got to Ivan’s POV, however, things began to make more sense. This author writes and you’re suddenly immersed and you don’t remember when that happened.

I’m trying to say is that this book has got good qualifies. Flawed and realistic characters in a realistic setting, and writing that feels unique and immersive!

There is a lot of sexual content though, so… probably not best to read in a public setting unless you wanna read through a half-closed book or a barely visible screen whilst also looking over your shoulder every second…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Infidelity

Minor: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Car accident