Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

As You Were by Elaine Feeney

5 reviews

lam's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Cancer, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Medical content, Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Child abuse

sorcha's review against another edition

dark funny reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Death, Medical content, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

Minor: Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Abortion, Alcohol, and Grief

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Cancer, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Medical content

carabunkle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Medical content, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Confinement, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, Infidelity, and Bullying

becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

A heart-breaking and poignant debut by Irish author Elaine Feeney. It tells the story of Sinéad Hynes who has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This book is raw and brutally honest, shining a light on many of Ireland’s worst and most shameful moments in history. 

This is a harrowing read, at many points I had to put down the book and take a small break, either to get a cup of tea, fresh air or to have a small cry. The characters are vivid and true to life, and I found that I connected with them. Seeing how they are treated at times by staff or even by their own families throughout the book is heart-breaking. 

I won’t lie, this was a difficult book to get through as it is full of emotions but I enjoyed it thoroughly. A small trigger warning to those who might be inspired to read this book, it does deal with abortion, mother and baby homes, as well as terminal illness. I believe that these are all incredibly important topics highlighting Irish women’s’ struggle against oppression, and Elaine Feeney deals with them honestly and effectively.  

The writing style is interesting. It is written in spaced paragraphs, with the language and emotion changing drastically depending on our narrator’s emotion. It can feel at times that the words are tumbling out and that it is a never ending flow that can sometimes be almost manic. While at others it is restrained and clipped. This took a while for me to get used to as I started reading the book. It seems to be something that many people don’t enjoy about the book. I found that it got easier to understand as I got further into the book. 

I would highly recommend this book. It is a book that will stay with me for a long time and I look forward to reading more from Elaine Feeney. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Body horror, Cancer, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Dementia and Forced institutionalization