Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Nuestra parte de noche by Mariana Enríquez

30 reviews

oroseo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

incredible. the way each section of the book can stand alone but also informs the reader's understanding of the others. the way

that the darkness parallels the horrors of the time. the way the darkness cannot let any of them go, once in its sight. the way that its claws mark a person deapite a lifetime of evasion.

the author writes with clearness, i found myself flinching as i read.

and there are such beautiful quotes. when you finally get to the part where a character says the title. when you reckon with how horribly disposable every body is. the ways that love is twisted and deployed, the ways love is manipulated and disparaged.

there is a slower section in this novel, one that feels odd but reveals itself as necessary later in the novel. it took me a while to get through that section, but i would recommend actively trying to connect some of the more mysterious things happening to what you've already learned.

i think also, there's plot reasons for this. for the reader to stumble around in this unknowlable universe like Gaspar is. For Juan to finally be protected from our knowling, now that he has closed himself off from the Order

also. AIDS? the horror of aids!!! didn't even expect that. do we call this genre historical horror? 

I am slightly convinced that Rosario's section was written from where she lives in the Darkness. Also, i guess more obviously, that Gaspar has fallen into the same madness fortold by everyone in the Order, because he can't let go of the deaths. the darkness uses Adela to hold him hostage, or something to that affect.

I think one thing i wish i understood more, one thing that maybe a lot of non-Argentine readers of the book might need, is a tad more context on the colonial/racial history of Argentina. anti-indigeneity comes across very clear, and not unexpected, but i guess i just need to read more about who colonized and when. shockingly, lack of Argentine political knowledge does not hold one back, despite the time of the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Suicide, Body horror, Murder, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Violence, Racism, Vomit, Rape, and Police brutality

It is a dark book about a physically ill man being used by a cult, who abused many, many others. Would not recommend reading if you cannot handle graphic descriptions.

eelizard's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, War, Torture, Child abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Medical content, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Slavery

isaospina's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Una noche dormí después de leer este libro, soñé con La Oscuridad, con La Orden, con los sacrificios. 
Hacía años no soñaba con lo que estaba leyendo, pero no me sorprende que pasara con Nuestra parte de noche. 

Con un principio lento, tan lento que por un momento dudé sobre si podría terminarlo. Pero apenas terminó la primera parte de la historia de Juan y Gaspar todo se volvió claro: no iba a poder dejar de leer este libro. Es uno de esos libros que de tanto tenerlo contigo, llevarlo a todos lados, leerlo en cada momento posible le tomas afecto al objeto físico como muestra del afecto a la historia. 

Mariana Enriquez cuece a fuego lento una historia de misterio, oscuridad, tensión política y magia, donde el horror no es el horror de las películas que requieren un susto momentaneo, es un horror que hace que se te erice la piel, se te haga un nudo en la garganta, y sientas en la planta de los pies el temor y la tensión que sientes cuando tienes miedo físico. Es como ser niña otra vez y tener que atravesar una casa en la oscuridad, tarde en la noche, esa inseguridad, ese temor latente pero presente se siente leyendo las escenas más tensionantes de Nuestra Parte de Noche. 

Los personajes, todos, tienen sus imperfecciones, desde Juan con su forma bestial de tratar a los que lo rodean, hasta Gaspar, con sus iras heredadas de su padre. Vemos a niños crecer en la sombra que queda después de la dictadura de los 70s en Argentina, la epidemia de sida en los 80s, y todas las crisis económicas y políticas del país afectan a los personajes. Eventos reales, como el robo de las manos del cuerpo de Perón, la erupción del volcán y destrucción de Armero en Colombia, el mundial del 86, todos eventos reales, como la dictadura (los militantes y partidos si tienen nombres diferentes) entrelazados en un mundo de magia oscura, en una organización secreta cruel y violenta hace que el miedo sea más real porque estamos, al fin y al cabo en el mundo real. 

Los saltos cronológicos no llegan a ser confusos, de hecho, son un gran método para contar y aclarar la historia de Juan y sus acciones con Gaspar. Enriquez no deja nada al azar y al final casi todos los cabos quedan atados, igual que el colgado, arcano mayor del tarot. La escritura es fluida y la prosa, en español, casi preciosa, especialmente cuando describe lugares como Misiones o casas cambiantes. 

Dejo este libro con un deseo loco de conocer Misiones, Corrientes, Buenos Aires, La Plata y Choscamús y con un espacio en mi corazón para personajes como Gaspar, Vicky, Adela, Pablo e incluso Stephen. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Homophobia, Violence, Child abuse, Rape, and Blood

yrioona's review

adventurous dark informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Una mezcla impresionante de ficción histórica, terror cósmico, y drama familiar multigeneracional. Me fascinaban los personajes y me encantaba como la autora usa la lenguaje, el imagen, y la metáfora. Es un libro hermoso y también horripilante, con personajes complejos (incluyendo versiones de David Bowie y Genesis P-Orridge!) y una trama que extende desde el siglo XVIII hasta los años noventa tras múltiples narradores, y que se entrelaza con la historia de Argentina y sus horrores reales e imaginados. Es increíblemente oscuro y a veces brutal, pero también tierno, y enraizado en una exploración franca de la trauma intergeneracional.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Self harm, Chronic illness, Torture, Medical content, Murder, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Confinement, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Genocide, Sexual violence, Suicide, Child death, Car accident, Death of parent, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma

knenigans's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Violence, Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Suicide

amysworld's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I love a good character development driven book. This book was such a slow burn and I think thats why I enjoyed it so much. I love a book where you slowly get to know the characters and they grow as you read. It reminded me, in that sense, a lot of The Goldfinch. The characters are so rich and the world of the cult is so vivid. I love how it jumped back and forth from the past to present and you slowly learned how far this father was willing to go for his son.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gore, Murder, Suicide, Physical abuse, Death, Child death, Child abuse, and Violence

rileyk96's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

between the subtle political themes, various subplots, and emotionally flawed characters with questionable motive, i feel this book will be more powerful on a re-read. the author and translator did an amazing job maintaining tension and building unease which continued beyond the book’s end

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Child death

Minor: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide

vbarsi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I really wanted to love this book. Parts of it were so beautifully (terrifyingly) written - I will think about some parts of this book always for their creep factor.  I wish I felt like more of those parts happen though. I found there were many parts of the book that were too slow and included information I found unnecessary (or maybe boring). The narrator perspective change was a nice touch - I think it helped re-engage me when I found a section of the book had gone on too long. It also really added depth to the story. I think its worth giving a shot if you’re into horror, but wasn’t my favorite 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Child abuse, Death, Child death, Body horror, Violence, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Murder, Medical content, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Minor: Eating disorder, Pregnancy, and Suicide

Ending was not as satisfying as I imagined.

danikajoan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

This blew me away. I didn’t want it to end, loved the writing/translation (was already a fan of Enriquez from Things We Lost in the Fire), felt fully invested in the lore and so compelled by the characters. Really intense, a little eerie, sad, romantic, and funny. 

and I am ALWAYS on board for a “house is bigger on the inside than the outside” House of Leaves vibe.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Drug use, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Death, Medical content, Violence, Suicide attempt, Torture, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Colonisation, Chronic illness, Murder, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Rape, Vomit, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Blood, Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Racism, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Gore, Classism, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, and Genocide

Alllllll the trigger warnings for this one, very intense but not in a way that feels like it’s there just for shock value or is exploitative?

leekaufman's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Gore, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Torture

Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Sexual violence