Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

81 reviews

motleybooksandtea's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

2.5

2.5 — Oh goodness.

There were aspects of this book that really resonated with me. My internal sad girl felt very seen. The writing, itself, was also stunning and addictive.

I also loved that all the characters were unnamed except Apollo, the dog. That added a really cool depth.

However.

There were a lot of macabre topics that were mentioned, glanced over, and didn’t feel like they were purposeful to the story. There were asides that were not pertinent to the story. There were a few statements or ‘jokes’ that fell flat.

The triggers were not a problem for me, but there were A LOT of triggers. Do yourself a favor and look them up if you are thinking of reading this book.

I do want to try Nunez’s other works, though, due to the beauty of the writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Rape

Moderate: Abandonment and Mental illness

limap's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Suicide

thewolvesread's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

jenstef's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

apeck's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, and Death

Minor: Rape, Trafficking, and Infidelity

machenn's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Grief

tonski's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Suicide

madelonpaige's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

garynoplastie's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Death, Grief, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Gun violence

Zoophilia

klor's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

A nuanced look at grief, live, and friendship. There's so much heart in this book as well as the mundanity of grieving, of existing with it. It primarily followed the train of throughts of our narrator and wherever it takes her throughout the chapters. I really appreciated the complex relationship she had with her friend, the build up and development she had with Apollo

(even the switch of the second person from her friend to Apollo, I thought that was really neat and it gave the last chapter such a punch)

, and the spectrum that exists within teaching and the writing world despite my not agreeing to all of the narrator's points. The plot often gets lost in the deviations that happens per chapter and while some hits more than others, I wouldn't say it's the worst thing. I feel so emotional about this, and thinking of my own pet and of my friends who I love a lot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Grief, and Death

Minor: Animal death and Infidelity