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themisres's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
The way I look at this book changed drastically after I learned about Hanya Yanagihara’s opinions about therapy (how she thinks it’s not really useful and some people are fvcked beyond help) . At first I was fooled to think she had a point with this book but after hearing her talk for more than half a minute, I was quite convinced that she wasn’t capable of making any point. This book is long, boring, and sad just for the sake of it. I kept reading with hopes that it would pick up a little. But it didn’t. I paid a lot of money for this book in my country’s currency, and that was the only motivation I had to finish it.
Reminder for my future self: If a book has like 50 or so content warnings, maybe don’t read it.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
loglew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW what a wild ride this book was. I knew it was going to be sad and at the beginning knowing Jude was at monastery I was like yeah I know where this is going but there was so much more to come. BUT, even amidst all the darkness, all the horribleness, all the terribleness of both other people and life itself, the glimpses of a happy life and happy moments in life shine through in this book. Yes there may be struggle but there is good with the bad. Finding lifelong friends, becoming extremely successful, traveling the world, having a personal doctor/friend who can take care of you, being adopted by loving parents, a surprise relationship that transcended traditional sexuality… the list goes on.
This book captures the most beautiful and the ugliest aspects of a life time. It was an invigorating read for sure. Just finished ugly crying for the last 100 pages or so 🙃
The only thing I’m thinking about that I’m wondering why it was included and what the intention was is why the heck did JB kiss Jude toward the end… did he do it as like a friend thing to make him feel better or was there underlying intention that he wanted to be with Jude..? It was kind of brushed over. JB was probably my least favorite character by far which is why I be thinking about this
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
roguesaw's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
itsbumley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
kait815's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Suicide attempt
rmjennsch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
purplepandajen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
mstevens3697's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
alyxandrathegr8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Horrifically tragic. Trama porn. Don’t read if you are not in a good place.laura007's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Getting trough this book only took 25 cries (yes I counted) and like a million pauses to stare into space trying to process what's happening (I couldn't have counted those if I tried, simply because it was not clear when one ended and another started)
But don't be fooled, I loved this book. Every word of it. I loved the way each line was phrased. I loved how you were told absolutely everything about the characters, making it feel like you knew them. I love the way it broke me, shook me and devastated me (if you spotted a Florence and The Machine reference, you would be right, that was intentional). I have found the book to be devastating in the most beautiful way.
One of my favorite things about the book is the slow pace, I absolutely loved how it allowed the plot to be developed fully and perfectly. If you're in the first two parts and you're thinking that nothing is happening - something is, you're just getting to know the characters, you're learning about them, that's going to be so important later on.
If you're thinking about reading this, I'd say you should. But please proceed with caution. It's a really intense reading experience and you are (at the very least) going to have to take a lot of breaks, while reading. It's pretty much impossible to not take it all in.
Also, if you are considering reading it - please please please PLEASE, check the trigger warnings, there's a lot and most of it is graphic. Only read it when you're in a good place mentally.
(side note : this book reminded me of Appointments by Julien Baker, specifically "Maybe it's all gonna turn out alright /I know that it's not, but I have to believe that it is")
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide