Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

69 reviews

reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

A poignant and gritty historical fiction that does not shy away from the physical and emotional brutality of WWI. While marketed primarily on the lives of two friends turned lovers and the environment of the time for those attracted to the same gender, it should not be understated how much this book dedicates to friendships, bonds, as are and the assumptions of. While not as prominent it also addresses classism and has a beautiful not to how many gray areas existed 'behind enemy lines' in that even in the darkest places there were examples of compassion and a recognition of humanity no matter what language was spoken or what uniform was worn. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Mental illness, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Violence, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Homophobia, Bullying, Vomit, and Classism

raisinreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

a life more devastating than death

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Death, War, Violence, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Gore, and Grief

lealula's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, War, Mental illness, Grief, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Colonisation, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide

itsdanewrightt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was such a hard book to read due to current events. That being said, I found the story of Gaunt and Ellwood lovely. The war was horrific and dreadful but I loved the two main character’s hope of seeing each other again after being separated. It was also a good insight into homosexuality in the past, and is great at showing that we have always existed 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Mental illness, Homophobia, Death, and Genocide

novelshire's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Gore, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Confinement and Antisemitism

julievancan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I was entirely gripped by this devastating story. As other reviews note, the descriptions of trench warfare are viscerally violent and relentless bleak, but Winn brings humanity and intimacy to the love story, which is the beating, bleeding heart of this beautiful novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Violence, and War

catorureads's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

4.0

This book does not romanticize war, yet it shows us how we can find love even in the cruelest places.
While this book is disturbing and sad, I found the moments that will haunt me the most are the smallest little things. The In Memoriam pages in the newspaper. When you see 16 years old next to a name of a boy in the list of killed in action. When people who're both German and English are forced to fight against their kin. 

The thing that will keep lingering in my mind however, is the very last page of this book. Without spoiling, it's another newspaper article of 10 November 1918. I think that says enough. 

I did not cry but it was a very brutal book so make sure you're in the right headspace to read this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Gore, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Genocide

Moderate: Mental illness, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Antisemitism

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

laurennicole98's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Alcoholism, Suicide, Homophobia, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Xenophobia

kiwialexa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, War, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Antisemitism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Classism, and Suicide

whatnovareads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

Oof [hand on chest & deep exhale] ❤️‍🩹

When I started reading In Memoriam, I never thought I would stay up until the early hours of the morning to finish reading it- for me that's a huge deal! This is heartbreaking, harrowing, beautiful and epic.
 

I learnt so much about boys' public schools, conscription (and white feathers), the hierarchy of officers during war (and how unjustly titles were allocated) and the brutalities of the First World War - even poetry. 

I regularly forgot how young the soldiers were. The atrocities of war forced them to grow up quickly, oftentimes i imagined the main characters as grown men but was reminded they were teenagers and the gut punch worsened when i read the Roll of Honour in the Preshutian. These were school boys going to war, lambs to the slaughter. 

I was keen to know how the love story between Gaunt and Ellwood would develop, would they "make it" or not? What can I say? 

I love true love, I love enduring love. 

I usually find a good quote from the book to summarise the main theme but in this instance there are too many. The writing is simply beautiful- elegant. I can’t believe this is a debut novel! I would encourage everyone who reads this book to also read the Author’s Note - it’s fascinating. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, and Gore

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, and Homophobia