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mstall_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
I'm in awe.
Somehow Alison Espach told us a story about grief but made it witty, remarkable and touching. Notes On Your Sudden Disappearance is for you if you enjoy character driven stories that tussle with the experience of losing loved ones young and the ordeal of still having to grow up.
Sally and Kathy are sisters growing up in the early nineties. Like most siblings, they only have each other most of the time. Sally looks up to older sister Kathy with a reverence -- Kathy is the keeper of knowledge. She knows how to put on mascara, how to navigate school, how to sneak out without their parents knowing, how to make out with a boyfriend. Sally is perfectly content with being in her sister's shadow until one day when she decides that she doesn't want to be left behind while Kathy grows up. Sally's desire to be close to her sister on one fateful day changes the rest of her life. What follows is a story about the audacity of living when someone young is gone.
I found myself chuckling my way through this entire book, which feels very at odds with the topic of the story. But, that's what makes it so genuine! If you've ever lost someone close to you at a young age (and what a mercy if you haven't!), you know that the grief sits weird -- it's awful and yet you're still growing up? Things are still funny? You still have to go to US History? You still have to set out the chicken for you mom? Alison's prose is lively and droll, allowing you to experience the heartbreak without completely falling to pieces.
I want to also note here that it appears from many of the reviews that people picked up this book thinking it was a thriller. I too first believed this when I grabbed it off the shelf. While I was pleasantly surprised, I can completely see how some readers may feel the title/description was misleading and feel let down by that. I'll say it again this is not a thriller but it is 100% worth your time.
Five stars.
Somehow Alison Espach told us a story about grief but made it witty, remarkable and touching. Notes On Your Sudden Disappearance is for you if you enjoy character driven stories that tussle with the experience of losing loved ones young and the ordeal of still having to grow up.
Sally and Kathy are sisters growing up in the early nineties. Like most siblings, they only have each other most of the time. Sally looks up to older sister Kathy with a reverence -- Kathy is the keeper of knowledge. She knows how to put on mascara, how to navigate school, how to sneak out without their parents knowing, how to make out with a boyfriend. Sally is perfectly content with being in her sister's shadow until one day when she decides that she doesn't want to be left behind while Kathy grows up. Sally's desire to be close to her sister on one fateful day changes the rest of her life. What follows is a story about the audacity of living when someone young is gone.
I found myself chuckling my way through this entire book, which feels very at odds with the topic of the story. But, that's what makes it so genuine! If you've ever lost someone close to you at a young age (and what a mercy if you haven't!), you know that the grief sits weird -- it's awful and yet you're still growing up? Things are still funny? You still have to go to US History? You still have to set out the chicken for you mom? Alison's prose is lively and droll, allowing you to experience the heartbreak without completely falling to pieces.
I want to also note here that it appears from many of the reviews that people picked up this book thinking it was a thriller. I too first believed this when I grabbed it off the shelf. While I was pleasantly surprised, I can completely see how some readers may feel the title/description was misleading and feel let down by that. I'll say it again this is not a thriller but it is 100% worth your time.
Five stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Suicide attempt
chelle22's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Animal death, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Death, and Self harm
ainsley_j5's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, and Blood
Minor: Vomit, Blood, and Drug use
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