Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

387 reviews

theliteraryteapot's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I have absolutely zero tolerance when it comes to adultery so obviously this was not a book for me. Yes, I understand the characters are meant to be very flawed and all that stuff. Okay and then what? It certainly didn't feel like any of them grew out of this. No character development whatsover and they all need therapy. Reading about privileged wealthy and culturally bourgeois white characters is not much interesting to me. They are left-leaning but their political discussions felt so very performative (reminding me of people patting themselves on the back after watching the tv show Dear White People). I've seen people debating on Rooney's writing style and I don't get why? There's nothing to say to it, it's easy to read and very accessible.

Although I have endometriosis, I don't think I can judge the representation that much because it can manifest in many different ways from one person to another. The only thing (maybe I'm nitpicking here), is that no you don't necessarily need a surgery to confirm a diagnosis, an mri scan is enough. And no, endometriosis is not just painful periods and infertility, it's so much more, there are so many other symptoms and different types of pain (outside periods and ovulations).
It's funny because on paper, Frances could have been my representation: bi, endometriosis, poetess, studying literature, financially struggling (except for the fact her uncle owns her apartment), and yet... Nothing worked for me. It's just not for me.

I'm glad it got me out of a reading slump and I'm glad to see endometriosis more in fiction. That's it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Vomit, Chronic illness, Classism, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy

jillaay_h's review

challenging dark emotional funny 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Vomit, Blood, and Medical content

aubriss's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Self harm

Moderate: Chronic illness

kpiel's review against another edition

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

2.75

This book lacked much of a plot or character development, and all of the characters were so truly flawed it wasn’t easy to like any of them or want to keep reading. There were quite a few times when I thought “what is the point of all this; what is this building up to?”, just to have those questions remain unanswered at the end of the book. I wouldn’t really recommend this book to anyone, hence the low star rating, however upon reflection, I have found some value in this kind of story.

The characters are very human, with deep human flaws, and making true human mistakes. And I think that is why it was so tough to keep reading, because there are parts of the characters that I see in myself and/or others that I’m close to. And reading something that hits a little too close to home doesn’t give me the escape that I usually seek when turning to books. But I understand that this was likely the point of the book— a realistic, raw view of one perspective of the human experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Chronic illness

ruth_power's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

All the characters are complex but unique and interesting. Sally Rooney's writing is also unique and authentic - I was completely inside the characters' heads.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Racism, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Sexism, and Infidelity

ilovebooks1967's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

3.0

A good book, however sometimes there are somewhat patronising essay-like pages that come across as perhaps pretentious to the reader. Very romantic and enjoyable nonetheless.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Sexism, and Sexual content

finebook's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Chronic illness

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

rmkboon's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

2.75

Rooney’s complex characters are refreshing to start and then for me it becomes incredibly pretentious. A super  rushed ending,

her endo diagnosis felt rushed and Frances didn’t really come to terms or engage at all in her feelings about this. As someone with chronic illnesses, yes this is true for a time to struggle with accepting it but the *hide away your illness* trope without any kind of development here is quite damaging to any readers who suffer with chronic illnesses themselves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

mariabacterium's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content

Moderate: Self harm, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

djenkin96's review

challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I think it was just a story of repeated behaviours from all the main characters. There were sections of self development or self awareness with the intent to improve, but did any character actually develop ? In the end I didn’t even end up liking Bobbi or Frances or even Melissa. I’m not even sure I liked nick. A lot of loose ends at the end ? It’s  Like the author got bored, undid all the self-awareness and ended the book ? 

I did like the relevant topics And The nod to endometriosis.However I Feel the author  glazed over a large amount of obvious body image issues and an eating disorder ?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Infertility, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, Medical content, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content