Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

34 reviews

madisonmc's review

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

3.75

 I’m am really on the fence; the first quarter of this book was a really slow. But I also couldn’t put it down, I love Sally Rooney’s writing style, and the complexity to the characters (although not diverse at all within the book or her other books). The emails between Alice & Eileen where very complex at the start and why I found this book slow... They where so political & philosophical, for me to relate to or overly enjoy reading about I felt like I was out of my depths, and I love philosophy (not so much politics). They do become more relatable as the book progresses as they develop into the Beautiful World question its framed beautifully and very emotive in a subtle way. Eileen & Simon's relationship was basically the main couple tropes from Normal People and Conversations With Friends but combined. 
(Dominance / Miscommunication/Upbringing has affected ability to love/Refusal to admit feelings/Slightly older man/etc)
  its not that I didn’t like them just felt like I was reading the same story again. Alice & Felix relationship is little more original new in their character development although only slightly. Reading my own review I’m easily 3.5 however I did enjoy the book and If I hadn’t read her other novels it would probably be 4.5 ? so 4? I'm still on the fence - also the first quarter of this book was solid a 3... ?
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nicolet's review

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

4.5

 I’ve officially read all the novels Sally Rooney has published to this date, and I can officially say she has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors. I love her writing because it makes me feel like even if I haven’t gone through the exact situations of her characters, the emotions and thoughts are ones I think most have thought and felt. 

This book surprised me with how much older the tone is compared to Conversations With Friends and Normal People. The characters are older and their issues reflect that. I really thought the commentary on life and what it means to be young in the world we live in today was interesting and genuine. I loved the conversations about God and what it means to be religious. I related a lot to the character of Simon and how I see my faith, so reading that it was nice to see how someone else inadvertently helps others come to terms with their beliefs. He also isn’t the type to condemn others or push his beliefs which I appreciate. 

Something I really liked about this book (and I’m not sure if it was intentional) but one of my favorite monologues is the opening one from Love, Actually. I have always thought it captured how even in the bad moments of life, you can find love and good things. This book felt like that monologue. The characters are searching for what the purpose of life is in such horrible times, and they are able to find that even if things get darker and the world gets bleaker, there will always be beautiful things. 
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monicavillasb's review

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emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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genevievecollum's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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eruanna317's review

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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saphirabloom's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

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alexan007's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-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

2.25

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jameslyons's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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gracer's review

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dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another good one. How does she do it.

I keep hoping that she'll top <i>Conversations with Friends</i>, still my favorite Rooney novel, but I won't hold my breath. At this point I think she's moved in a different direction, and her life experiences will never translate into a novel the same way again. But that's okay. Even though we're reading about a novelist, it works. 

Rooney has given us another cast of completely dysfunctional characters. Alice is Alice, she's a mess, and she seems to have some level of... maybe not imposter syndrome, exactly, but whatever a combination of imposter syndrome and survival guilt would be. 

And then there's Eileen, who you feel pathetically sorry for, and also a little bit consistently angry at. So frustrating to read as she makes one mistake and then the next.

And then there's the climax, where everyone is wrong, and everything is painfully realistic, and of course Alice is largely responsible... but I couldn't help thinking that Eileen deserved a bit more of the blame. Eileen is constantly projecting her problems onto other people. It drove me a little crazy.

All that to say, another realisitc look at human interaction. Every bit as painful as Rooney's other novels... except for the endings, which are nowhere near as depressing as the first two. 
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loraora's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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