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Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
The book kept me hooked almost to the end, but after 600 pages or so I really just wanted it to end, because I couldn't take it anymore. Yes, I read all the warnings about how heartbreaking this book is, but no warning can prepare you for actually reading it. While I am kind of drawn to dark, heartbreaking stories, this one was admittedly a bit too much for me because it just didn't get better. Any time there was a bit of happiness, it just got taken away again.
Nevertheless, I am still glad I read this book, because of how much I love these characters and because it is an incredible study in love, relatonships, depression, and the longlasting effects of both major trauma and undconditional love.
Additionally, I have never read such a raw and honest description of someone battling trauma and major mental health issues and as someone who reads and researches a lot about this topic, I appreciated this honesty.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use
Completely devastating but it's a masterpiece. Such a raw and visceral book. Also, I don't know if it was the author's conscious decision to not delve into Malcolm's character but I would have loved to read more about him and his life in depth..like I did JB.
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I don't think this book will ever leave me. It is ingrained in my bones, steeped into my blood, in my very soul. I will think of this book for many many years to come.
So, what's this book about? It's about 4 boys- Jude, JB, Malcolm and Willem. It follows them straight from college and into adulthood as they struggle with the demons of their pasts, present and futures. It deals with grief, sexual assault, addiction among other subjects. But it also deals with friendship, love, hope and the resilience of the human body and spirit.
This is a sad and miserable book. Don't get me wrong. Its contents are rough. But it is not a big bad scary wolf that you should be scared of. lt's actually poignant and the writing is lyrical and it's profound and it is brilliant. So don't let the reviews deter you. Check out the content warnings before you pick it up though, because we need to keep ourselves safe. And if you are able to get through heavy subject material, please pick this up. It is a masterpiece and deserves all the hype.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Kidnapping
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail