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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug use
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
emotional
inspiring
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I appreciated being inspired to think at length about the ideas put forward by the book more than I was necessarily bowled over by the book itself, but I think for a book like this at a moment in time like the cultural moment that we were all experiencing, that is exactly what it feels like the author set out to do. That's all it's asking of you.
I liked that the vignettes were short and sweet, bite sized experiences like dipping your head into one of the pools in the in-between place from The Magician's Nephew. It made the experience of reading it much more deliberately pace-able and I was able to take it around with me, reading while traveling, ruminating on the discoveries the character makes in each new life she visits and reflecting on my own life. There really was a lot of value in the conclusions I drew from those reflections and the conversations I had with loved ones that grew out of those lines of inquiry.
I liked that the vignettes were short and sweet, bite sized experiences like dipping your head into one of the pools in the in-between place from The Magician's Nephew. It made the experience of reading it much more deliberately pace-able and I was able to take it around with me, reading while traveling, ruminating on the discoveries the character makes in each new life she visits and reflecting on my own life. There really was a lot of value in the conclusions I drew from those reflections and the conversations I had with loved ones that grew out of those lines of inquiry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts
I quite enjoyed the first half of this book. Cool concept and I liked the ways it got me thinking about my own life and choices. The protagonist was well developed as flawed but trying her best, which I appreciated.
The last third of the book, however, lost me.I hated that the "perfect life" was depicted as being a wife and mother, without any other aspect of that life being given attention or meaning. I imagine the author's intent in having her leave that life was to say that life wasn't perfect, but we didn'tactually see any way she was dissatisfied with it so it didn't work for me. The resulting ending felt trite and moralistic, and it had me rolling my eyes. YMMV, of course.
The last third of the book, however, lost me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was not for me. I almost DNF’d but I got halfway because it was recommended to me. It got a bit better in the middle. Overall I thought it was predictable, I figured out the end as soon as she got to the library. I didn’t love Nora as a character. It was an easy read but overall don’t recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
interesting read, but the books view on mental health is ridiculous. All problems, struggles and challenges the MC had in her life disappeared after her suicide attempt. The solution to her hurt is simply finding her will to live.
I find that to be a very shallow view on mental health. You cannot heal from one day to another, it is a process. In the end the mc suddenly is free from all her suffering, no slow process of her overcoming parts of her depression, no therapy, no NOTHING.
Teeth-rotting wishful thinking of how to overcome your mental illness written by a person who clearly never suffered under any of it themselves.
I find that to be a very shallow view on mental health. You cannot heal from one day to another, it is a process. In the end the mc suddenly is free from all her suffering, no slow process of her overcoming parts of her depression, no therapy, no NOTHING.
Teeth-rotting wishful thinking of how to overcome your mental illness written by a person who clearly never suffered under any of it themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The most beautiful book I’ve read in 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt