Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

111 reviews

cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

jillyclaire23's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I read chapters 1-9 of this book, skipped the middle section, then read the last chapter. Most of the middle was extremely triggering and hard to read. Otherwise, I loved this book. It sheds light on the very specific struggles of mothers who are targeted by Child Protective Services. Mothers, especially of color, are disproportionately policed and punished for being “bad” mothers in real life. Another thought experiment that draws heavily on reality (it’s based off a true story), the sci-fi element is such a cool touch on a subject so horrifying that it didn’t even need fictional embellishment. This novel shows us how much society criticizes and disciplines mothers for not fitting cultural and behavioral norms, and how so many power structures (having to do with race, class, gender, mental health/ability, etc) are exaggerated for mothers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Suicide, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, and Racism

kelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Infertility, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Biphobia, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

pich's review

challenging dark emotional 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

3.0

i thought there would be more of a dystopian theme, but i think that’s not a bad thing with this book. it was a bit slow at first, and i wasn’t too fond of the pacing at times, but i think the end redeemed itself.

the scenes with the dolls made me so extremely uncomfortable, but that was the point. the dolls definitely symbolize something, as well as the actual kids, and i think the way they were written was really heartbreaking. the later scenes with harriet were so touching yet devastating. the fact that frida took harriet in the end was a very conflicting moment, seeing as all she wanted was to be a good mother, yet knew it would end badly for the both of them.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Death

Minor: Sexism

ruffian23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Torture

beabates's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

I hated this book so so much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Abandonment

danaslitlist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-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

5.0

I can understand why for many this book could be seen as boring or slow however I found the commentary and exploration of intersectional feminism, racism, and the failure of the system to be compelling. This isn't a story that is meant to have you on the edge of your seat, and it certainly doesn't throw extreme circumstances at you. But what this book does do it does well. It gives you an incredibly in depth look at what guilt, anger, and pain can do your mind and at purposefully crawling pace.

The School for Good Mothers is a book with a much deeper meaning and set of themes than it presents itself as. Like I said above it focuses on intersectional feminism and race; how mothers of color are specifically put at a disadvantage within any system we place them. They will always be help to a higher standard and even upon beating that standard it isn't enough. Meanwhile white women will always be the exception to the rule, especially if they have a money or connections. The hierarchy of womanhood will always value white, wealthy women over women of color and poor women (and God forbid you happen to be both). 

This is also a book that has a direct commentary on how Western conservative values have embedded themselves into every aspect of our society. The dog whistles and blatant rejection of any ideals that do not align with what is considered a typical conservative Christian ideal is rejected and punished. And I think the book demonstrates that beautifully within in the text and plot. 

The look into the consequences Frida's moment of desperation and exhaustion that haunt her long after the incident had my heart aching for her as well as wanting to shake her. She is a perfectly flawed character and even in her moments of unlikability you feel sympathetic to her. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Racism, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Gore

ceegee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Easily the most stressful book I’ve ever read, but well-executed and unflinching. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse

skelliton's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This book had a slow burn, but was engaging. The twist halfway through really shocked me, and then I put together the pieces of the foreshadowing. Would recommend, and might even read a second time to catch those things I missed the first time around.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Terminal illness, Confinement, Self harm, and Addiction

Minor: Chronic illness and Miscarriage

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Wanted to give this four stars, because my heart is too broken, but because I can hope for them, I give the book all five

II cannot understand. Are there really schools like this? Reminds me of a cross between One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Handmaid’s Tale. Cruel. So cruel. So nonsensical. Complete oppression. I really, really, really hope these schools do not exist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Torture

Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Infidelity

Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm, and Kidnapping