Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Mañana, y mañana, y mañana by Gabrielle Zevin

1368 reviews

victoriascotta's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Death of parent

lulialof's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

It had a good pace and nice focus on a special, deep friendship. It is not the most realistic story out there, but it does not have to be. Felt influenced by Normal People (Sally Rooney) and A little life (Hanya Yanagihara), but still keeping love and overcoming challenges at the heart of the story, rather than digging a deep hole of misery. Easy to read, not earthshatteringly unique or fascinating in terms of story and language, but still captivating. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Cultural appropriation

rebeccaquinton's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Cultural appropriation

aannaemelie's review against another edition

reflective 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

rynaissanceenby's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It feels like a modern story that deals with so many cultural issues in such good and enlightening ways. It reads like a John Green novel for an older audience. Even when I wanted to scream at the characters to "Just talk to each other!" they were still endearing, and I was enraptured by the story. I read this book in basically a single sitting, it that's any indication of how much I liked it. I will forgive it it's slightly inaccurate depictions of MIT on account of being a book I would be happy to reread. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Car accident

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Antisemitism, and Abortion

liesvdm's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

First of all I really liked the prose, Zevin is a good writer, it really flowed and there were beautiful sentences in there.
I loved the first 70% of the book, the last 30% wasn't on the same level for me 

the writing and pacing, but also I just kind of hated that Marx had to die :(

Overall it reminded me of A Little Life in some ways. Especially Marx

as he was almost too good to be true, but more in a "parable" sense in the same way A Little Life felt to me. And the way they cared for Sam who had some physical ailments (and not so great at taking care of himself, though he got better about it) was very remeniscent of Jude in A Little Life

Very loveable characters and a nice portrait of friendship.
You don't have to be a gamer to read this (I'm not, apart from some Animal Crossing, Candy Crush and Hay Day, lmao), but I'm old enough to remember "early" games and consoles and I think that did help. 
I also really loved the secondary characters - Dong and Bong, Ant and Simon - they really added to the book for me.
Also, I'd love to play some of the games from this book! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

bestturnip's review against another edition

hopeful sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Chose this as it was a mega bestseller in 2023 but it fell a bit flat for me.  Spoiler warning:

The constant switch up in writing perspectives and styles

like cutting to a page of game reviews or an interview in the future with Sadie / Sam

was an interesting choice but once or twice I felt it detracted from the story. 

Marx and his chapters hit home the most for me - despite making him the obvious "likeable" character while Sadie and Sam's flaws were obviously meant to be a main focus. 

Some of the word choices in the prose (not only character dialogue) felt a bit over the top and like the author wanted to remind you how smart, not only the characters, but she was.

I absolutely hated

the choice to have Sadie remain in contact with Dov after her experiences. Even if it is realistic, there wasn't enough emphasis for me on WHY Sadie made that choice other than 'she still looked up to him'

The passages from Marx's POV

with both the Macbeth and Strawberry Thief references were my favourite part and I honestly struggle to understand why his focus was as more of an NPC? If it was meant to be a big reference to how Sadie and Sam treated him, it was a bit flat.

Overall there were some really emotional and resonant scenes, and the references to theatre, art, and games were typically well thought out and had a place in the story. I wish that this book had a better idea of exactly what it was about, so our throughlines didn't get so muddled.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

Minor: Racial slurs, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5

This was such a unique book. I loved the way the story was told not only through multiple POVs but also through video games. As the characters grew up and adapted, so did the storytelling.

Sam/Mazer is such an intriguing character who you can’t quite wrap your head around. He has been invisible his whole life and isn’t quite sure how to love and be loved. His character grows quite a bit but still has his flaws to the very end.

All in all, this was a delight to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Abortion, and Pregnancy

chloel29's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail