Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Creature luminose by Shelby Van Pelt

34 reviews

katharina90's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This was a sweet story with lovable characters and a charming premise. Predictable, sure, but absolutely worth a read.

Marcellus' POV was my favorite. His commentary on human creatures was accurate and hilarious.

I hope his perspective inspires people to question and unlearn some of the speciesism they've been taught.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, Death, Addiction, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Ableism and Classism

randirambles17's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed this book! The chapters follow several different characters throughout the book but ultimately revolve around Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus the Giant Pacific octopus. I loved that the characters were not normal protagonists: Tova is a 70-year-old widow; Cameron is a 30-year-old habitual failure; Marcellus is a freaking octopus! Yet somehow, all of the characters are relatable.
I found the pacing to be a little slow in the beginning, but overall, it was really well done. The characters are lovable and each have their own quirks. They feel like real people.

This book was a birthday gift, and I would definitely read this book again!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

ciciyo's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Abandonment, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Addiction, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

jsly's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

lwarburton's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

I see what the author was trying to do but feel it didn’t quite reach it. I think the plot could have been achieved in half the length and was quite predictable. honestly, I wish there was more of the octopus. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

ruffian23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Confinement

metaphorsandmisc's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Death and Addiction

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

augustar14's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

A wonderful book about the connections we make, human and otherwise.  Tova, an elderly widow who lost her only son long ago in an accident the town no longer talks about, except in hushed tones if someone somehow doesn't know what happened, cleans the local aquarium at night. She finds purpose in cleaning, and cleaning well, and friendship in the fish and sea life- especially Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus.
Marcellus has been captive for the majority of his short life (about 4 years is the lifespan of his species). He misses the ocean, the dark, good food (though he goes in search of some here, when he really feels his menu needs changing up). Then Tova begins talking to him, and brings up a memory he has from long ago. But how can he communicate with her?
Cameron never knew his dad, and his mom left when he was nine. His life sucks. He was dealt a shit hand, and everything is someone else's fault. But when he gets the chance to go looking for family he might reconnect with, he jumps on it without hesitation, and ends up on an adventure he never would have predicted. But it just might be the best thing that ever happened to him.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, and Cursing

Moderate: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Child death, Cancer, Classism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction

Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent

hanhoffie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

alittlebitheather's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I'm not even sure I have the words to do this book justice (but I'll try anyway). This book will reach into your heart, squeeze it tightly, and not let go. I'm positive I'll be thinking about this for years to come and shoving it into absolutely everyone I know (and some people I don't)'s hands. Shelby Van Pelt has created characters that are wonderfully human and feel like they could step right off the page. Perfect for fans of books like A Man Called Ove, Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of those once in a lifetime stories that is sure to leave you wanting to revisit it over and over again - I already wish I could read it again for the first time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Suicidal thoughts