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Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'
Sharks in the Time of Saviours by Kawai Strong Washburn
28 reviews
_kathill's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
mitone_winona's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
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
5.0
First thing about this book, it does a beautiful example of combining magical realism with the realities of being in the modern times as well as combining the culture of Hawaii into a twist that I understand deeply as someone who is indigenous in America. Not only does the book deal with magical realism and how it affects the family, but its understandable in a way that is very modern and I believe relatable even if the book wasn't about the current things going on with Noa, who is a pseudo centerpiece that is surrounded and switched out by his family member's perspective of how they view Noa and the affect of their parents on the 3 children as well as Noa's existence being exceptionally amazing, he is still a young man who grew up overly praised rather than seen as a boy and a human.
This book is so natural and real with how it goes over being siblings in a challenging dynamic, being successful in a way that matters so much to you and your parents, and the consequences of reality on those goals and aspirations. Each sibling is very unique in both struggles and goals they all wish to achieve.
This book is so natural and realistic in a way that makes you cheer on even if the moment is tense. You want these characters to thrive and continue on. I highly suggest you read this book if you like magical realism combined with TRUE reality that intertwines both amazingly.
This book is so natural and real with how it goes over being siblings in a challenging dynamic, being successful in a way that matters so much to you and your parents, and the consequences of reality on those goals and aspirations. Each sibling is very unique in both struggles and goals they all wish to achieve.
This book is so natural and realistic in a way that makes you cheer on even if the moment is tense. You want these characters to thrive and continue on. I highly suggest you read this book if you like magical realism combined with TRUE reality that intertwines both amazingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Violence
kayleyhyde's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism and Animal death
kaiulanilee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
This book was absolutely stunning in so many ways.
Particularly the way it wove language into beautiful but sometimes very jarring sentences and the way the author was able to capture the distinct personalities and thoughts of each character with the way he wrote their chapters was brilliant. This is an absolutely brilliant story about family, resilience, Hawaiian mythology, and our connection to the world around us and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Particularly the way it wove language into beautiful but sometimes very jarring sentences and the way the author was able to capture the distinct personalities and thoughts of each character with the way he wrote their chapters was brilliant. This is an absolutely brilliant story about family, resilience, Hawaiian mythology, and our connection to the world around us and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual assault
bobbijopmh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
4.0
“The kingdom of Hawai‘i had long been broken—the breathing rain forests and singing green reefs crushed under the haole fists of beach resorts and skyscrapers—and that was when the land had begun calling.”
This novel artfully blends harsh realities and magic, on a story encompassing all members of a single family and spanning decades of their lives.
As someone who doesn't read a lot of magical realism, I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this. It's worth noting, though, that a lot of the ‘magic’ in this novel comes from Hawaiian traditional beliefs and lore.
The storyline had me gripped. With plenty of compelling twists and turns, which makes it hard to say much about the plot other than it's about finding a place where you truly belong, the relationships between family members, and the burdens that come with enormous expectations.
Kawai Strong Washburn switches voice for the different perspectives presented perfectly; creating a deeper understanding and connection with each character through their voice and mannerism. Malia with her lyrical, poetic and emotional descriptions; Dean with his strong pidgin-Hawaiian accent; Kaui with her insecure “okay?” and “right”. It is very skillfully written. The descriptions of places, and feelings, are atmospheric and almost a sensory experience themselves.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was unlike anything I've personally read before, and I can't wait to see what Kawai Strong Washburnwrites next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Animal death
bootsmom3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Drug use, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Rape
erinsbookshelves'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
2.0
Please read reviews and comments from Native Hawaiians about the cultural appropriation in this novel.
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3789958619?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3337819032?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://twitter.com/sara_kahanamoku/status/1299793554328313856
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3789958619?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3337819032?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://twitter.com/sara_kahanamoku/status/1299793554328313856
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Excrement, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
lklitup's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. I’m reeling from the lyricism of this prose and the depth of this family’s story. The magical realism of this novel does nothing to detract from the all-to-real themes about expectations from family, duty to self, and purpose within the greater world. This novel’s lush descriptions of Hawai’i and its culture made me want to go to the nearest beach just to sit and be near the ocean— something so large, powerful, unfathomable.
While Nainoa’s journey may have been the central story from which the others’ grew, I was most drawn to was Kaui. The other members of the Flores family seemed to flounder (or ultimately succumb) to the weaknesses they learned about themselves. Kaui fiercely refused to be seen as “less than” from anyone, even from within her own family. Even from herself. She was powerful.
“She never said shit like this to the boys, only to me. Like I was supposed to be guilty of ambition while they were just living their full potential.”
While Nainoa’s journey may have been the central story from which the others’ grew, I was most drawn to was Kaui. The other members of the Flores family seemed to flounder (or ultimately succumb) to the weaknesses they learned about themselves. Kaui fiercely refused to be seen as “less than” from anyone, even from within her own family. Even from herself. She was powerful.
“She never said shit like this to the boys, only to me. Like I was supposed to be guilty of ambition while they were just living their full potential.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Excrement, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault
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