Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Bálnahullás by Daniel Kraus

160 reviews

crykea's review against another edition

challenging informative tense fast-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

5.0

This is the kind of book I've just finished but is not finished with me. I will be thinking if this for a long time and have already pre-ordered the paperback so that I may one day own a copy for myself

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide and Terminal illness

ticktock's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, and Death of parent

gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense 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

3.5

How I saw it described: "Man would rather be literally swallowed by a whale than go to therapy”. 

It was enjoyable for the most part, but I don’t think it was my cup of tea. I can see this really working for others; the writing was great, the descriptions vivid and visceral, the science was fascinating, and it had family drama to boot. 

Whalefall is a “scientifically accurate thriller” about a scuba diver who’s been swallowed by a sperm whale and has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out. it’s claustrophobic and horrific. But in large part it’s about the relationship between a father/son, intolerable grief, forgiveness and survival. 

For me: it sucked to listen to all of the abuse that was directed specifically at Jay from his father Mitt. It was textbook narcissistic behavior of singling someone out, and the rest of his community though Mitt was the greatest. While important for both the narrative/themes and people to read about… it’s usually something I avoid because it can be triggering. 

I really dislike when stories take somewhat abusive/toxic people and try to redeem them in death. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

hbic's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

parkergarlough's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Transphobia

Minor: Bullying

binneybooks's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide

its not torture per-say more like indirect torture from being eaten by a whale....

scott_a_schneider's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.5

It's a great premise, but I wish someone else had written it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

thepeonyinink's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Terminal illness, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent

arborapollonis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Picked this up at the bookstore a few weeks back, not thinking too much of it but still being intrigued by its premise, blurb, and format. Truly one of the best decisions I've made. Kraus tells the harrowing tale of a boy trying to survive inside of a whale, while also trying to come to terms with the role his father played in his life. It's dark, it's gross, the tension is maintained expertly, but there's also this pervasive tenderness throughout the story. For family, for the ocean, for the planet. Despite feeling iffy about it at first, I ended up also really liking the religious references throughout. A little bit of a coincidence plot, which I'm personally not a big fan of, but it was handled much better than in other books I've read. Definitely worth the time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Body horror

Moderate: Suicide and Vomit

aposthuma's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

4.5

What an INSANE book. As promised, it's 127 Hours meets the Martian meets Jonah from the Bible. This is possibly the goriest, grossest book I've ever read, but I could not put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail