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mugsandmanuscripts's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
This novel is an astute exploration of grief with a side of shrewd commentary on the art and life of a writer.
The unnamed narrator, a writer, spends months working through her acute grief after her mentor and best friend commits suicide. Her complex and often muddled feelings toward him complicate her journey. The narrator is well-developed and entirely believable; she is unsure of herself, unsure of her feelings, not always completely honest with herself (although, I think, strives to be), and deeply engulfed in her grief (but, with dry humor, also still indignant at her late mentor's incessant womanizing).
As she processes her loss, she also processes her relationship with her mentor and what he meant to her. She also ruminates on the academic field of writing itself as well as many of the difficulties inherent to working in the field. Given that her friend was also her writing professor many years ago, it seems natural that processing her loss also causes these tangental reflections to surface.
The narrator is joined in her grief by the dog of her late mentor, as his wife isn't interested in caring for the heartbroken animal. The relationship complicates her life significantly, since the dog is huge (a great dane), old (and therefore ailing), and not allowed in her apartment. She faces eviction and the well-meaning, though seemingly heavy concern of her friends.
I really loved this one, which surprised me a little bit. I normally like books that are a little more plot-focused, but this one was just so well-done and engaging. I honestly wouldn’t change anything at all.
The unnamed narrator, a writer, spends months working through her acute grief after her mentor and best friend commits suicide. Her complex and often muddled feelings toward him complicate her journey. The narrator is well-developed and entirely believable; she is unsure of herself, unsure of her feelings, not always completely honest with herself (although, I think, strives to be), and deeply engulfed in her grief (but, with dry humor, also still indignant at her late mentor's incessant womanizing).
As she processes her loss, she also processes her relationship with her mentor and what he meant to her. She also ruminates on the academic field of writing itself as well as many of the difficulties inherent to working in the field. Given that her friend was also her writing professor many years ago, it seems natural that processing her loss also causes these tangental reflections to surface.
The narrator is joined in her grief by the dog of her late mentor, as his wife isn't interested in caring for the heartbroken animal. The relationship complicates her life significantly, since the dog is huge (a great dane), old (and therefore ailing), and not allowed in her apartment. She faces eviction and the well-meaning, though seemingly heavy concern of her friends.
I really loved this one, which surprised me a little bit. I normally like books that are a little more plot-focused, but this one was just so well-done and engaging. I honestly wouldn’t change anything at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Suicide
This book reads like an astute exploration of grief with a side of shrewd commentary on the art and life of a writer. The nameless female narrator spends the book working through her acute grief after her mentor and best friend commits suicide. The grief is complicated by her complex feelings toward her mentor, including possibly romantic feelings for him (which she herself isn’t sure about) as well as anger toward him for his womanizing.materiality's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
leefox's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Grief
sagecannon's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Suicide
ktoumajian's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
brinnavirginia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, and Infidelity
Minor: Excrement and Vomit
reshusky's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think the subjects could have been handled better. Felt less like it was focusing on grief, and more on complaining about new authors/students. The bits about the dog and grief were good, the book feels intimate but it also felt like a complaint more than a novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Grief and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
jodibee's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Suicide
sonjs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
I loved Sigrid Nunez’s intimate writing style. The narrator felt like a close friend telling me a story. A Harlequin Great Dane is a major character in this story about love, friendship , the mystery and pain surrounding suicide , and grief. I rarely read books a second time but this one I will . I’m also going to read her new book The Vulnerables .
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Suicide