Reviews with content warning for Self harm - Under the Whispering Door

Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

45 reviews

jmitchell20's review against another edition

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

3.0

I never got the emotional gutpunch from this book that most other reviewers seem to get.
For me, it felt too long and dragged and repeated itself in a lot of places. it did bring up a lot of interesting discussions around death and grief but I just never really connected with it on an emotional level. Nevertheless the writing is beautiful and the author paints a vivid picture of the teashop and its inhabitants. But time to move on to something cheerier I think.

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nestofwordsandblankets's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

Under the Whispering Door had such narrative potential but, it remained dormant until the last 1/3 of the book. The story explores what does it mean to be alive, how does death changes you, and how grief impacts you. It also explores love and the lengths one will go through to maintain a loving connection. Klune created a beautifully written story full of quirky humor and complex emotions.
Unfortunately, I found aspects of Wallace's journey repetitive with minimal forward movement until the tail end. Some of the characters were not as developed as I would have liked, as a reader. They felt unnecessary to move the story forward.

I would suggest future readers review trigger warnings before reading this book.

Content Warnings

oliverlang's review

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emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-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? Yes

3.25

Hurray for older queer(gay & bisexual) characters!

is this bury your gays in reverse? 🔁

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laurenkimoto's review

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dark emotional hopeful 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

3.75

This review is almost entirely based on me having read The House in the Cerulean Sea first (so if you have not read it I, please do not continue reading as there will be mild spoilers).

Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Did it make me feel like I need to re-evaluate my life and what it means to show kindness and have an impact on those around you? Hell yes. Did this book remind me of The Good Place? Yes, Season 2 and 3 especially. Do I feel like Hugo and Arthur, and Wallace and Linus are the same characters, different fonts? Mostly, but I still enjoyed the characters.

On a completely unrelated note why are the supposedly menacing characters in T J Klune’s books children/are depicted as children? (I’m looking at you Manager and Anti-Christ)

WHY WOULD YOU HAVE THE DOG DIE TWICE?? That emotionally destroyed me. I was not prepared for the ghost dog to “die” and learn how the ghost dog became a ghost in the first place. Wow it’s always the dead dogs that get me. THE DOG IS NOT ON THE COVER OF THE BOOK ERGO THE DOG SHOULD NOT DIE

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amy_harboredinpages's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad 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

5.0

A story about grief and hope. This was so damn heartwarming, and a little heartbreaking. There was laughter, and tears, and of course my favorite trope of all... found family. I want more.

Content Warnings

keen's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

3.5

This book made me tear up several times. TJ Klune has a wonderful way of writing characters that start off unlikeable and grow better through their interactions with kind and patient people. It really shows that most can become better if given the time and care, even if it takes a long time. Aside from showing this skill in this book, he's also shown it in The House on the Cerulean Sea, the first book I've read from him. Speaking of that book, he certainly shows he likes the word "cerulean" in this story.

I also appreciate him for creating a story where LGBTQ+ people aren't questioned. That's always refreshing to see. There are many stories about LGBTQ+ experiencing bigotry, either as the entire story or slice of it. Those stories are important, but I prefer to experience a world where it's simply accepted as another part of humanity.

And let me say, this artist has shown the perfect way to give a content warning. This is a book that deals with a heavy subject intrinsic to human life and shows how important it is for people to be aware of what they're going to read. It's at the start of the book under Author Notes, being quick to the point by explaining the themes.

The note: "This story explores life and love as well as loss and grief. There are discussions of death in different forms—quiet, unexpected, and death by suicide. Please read with care."

CW: Suicide Discussion

On a more personal note, as someone with chronic depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety disorders, I've never seen those subjects written with such care and empathy. I was fully ready to be disappointed when the subject would come up by criticizing people for being in a bad place, judging them for "throwing away their lives" and "not being strong enough." I was pleasantly surprised to see TJ Klune show that those comments are some of the worst ways to react to someone's suffering. He instead presents more empathetic ways to respond to people's illnesses and choices that don't blame them for how they feel.

Content Warnings