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zimnotutaj's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable book that handled the topic of a bipolar disorder pretty well. I have to admit I liked the author's other book a bit more tough. I kind of dislike the title of this one, too. Melody Black is a suprisingly little and meaningless part of this book, so don't expect to read a story about her. Also - the last 1/3 of the story is the weakest part in my opinion.
meganstreb's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know how much I enjoyed this book, although the writing was compelling and the characters were interesting. Enjoyed probably isn't the right word. But I'm glad I got to tag along on Abigail's journey.
emiandem's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cosmosbooks's review
5.0
Ich mochte dieses Buch sehr gerne. Ich habe vor einigen Jahren schonmal ein anderes von diesem Autor sehr gemocht und mir deshalb dieses aus der Stadtbibliothek mitgenommen, ohne genau zu wissen, worum es geht (der Klappentext war nicht gerade aussagekräftig). Ich war dann sehr positiv überrascht, dass es um eine psychische Störung geht, die Protagonistin leidet nämlich unter einer Bipolar-2-Störung. Der Autor hat das so krass realistisch geschrieben, ich konnte echt viel aus meiner Psychologie-VL über Bipolare Störungen wieder erkennen und fand das unfassbar spannend und fesselnd. Der Schreibstil gefällt mir auch wirklich sehr, es war so leicht zu lesen und ich habe an einigen Stellen sogar laut kichern müssen, weil es ein bisschen lustig war :D Der Höhepunkt ist allerdings die Mitte des Buches, der Anfang und das Ende waren stellenweise ein bisschen langgezogen
mpr2000's review against another edition
5.0
Everything started with a dead body, that's the exact moment where Abby's life changed; for good or for bad... follow her in her trip through the other mirror!
I was gladly surprised with this book, talking about mental illness is not easy, but Gavin wrote about it with humour and freshness making this book really interesting and brutally real.
I think we still live in a time where talking about mental illness is still a tabu, making the people who had this illness afraid to talk about them, making maybe it worst. And I don't think it has to be easy for the family and friends to suffer this pain and not be able to talk about it.
Abby's life change after finding the dead body of her neighbour, she feels deep in her world but no one except her can help her recover, then she met Melody Black. Strangely that's when Abby decides to take a step ahead and start her recovery.
I was surprised that Gavin choose Lindisfarne for Abby to retire, I've been there and is quite funny to understand completely how Abby felt when she was there, the power of silence and history that surrounds you when you visit the island. They say that it was a few years ago since a car was stuck buy the tide... we where almost get caught but the tide a couple of years ago, it was not funny!
This is a book hard to put down, I finished it with just one day...
Have you passed the mirror?
I was gladly surprised with this book, talking about mental illness is not easy, but Gavin wrote about it with humour and freshness making this book really interesting and brutally real.
I think we still live in a time where talking about mental illness is still a tabu, making the people who had this illness afraid to talk about them, making maybe it worst. And I don't think it has to be easy for the family and friends to suffer this pain and not be able to talk about it.
Abby's life change after finding the dead body of her neighbour, she feels deep in her world but no one except her can help her recover, then she met Melody Black. Strangely that's when Abby decides to take a step ahead and start her recovery.
I was surprised that Gavin choose Lindisfarne for Abby to retire, I've been there and is quite funny to understand completely how Abby felt when she was there, the power of silence and history that surrounds you when you visit the island. They say that it was a few years ago since a car was stuck buy the tide... we where almost get caught but the tide a couple of years ago, it was not funny!
This is a book hard to put down, I finished it with just one day...
Have you passed the mirror?
angry_bun's review
5.0
"People talk about dark moods, black moods, all the time. But depression isn’t a dark mood. It’s an ash-grey mood, or possibly some type of beige."
This story starts when Abigail Williams, freelance journalist, instead of having a quiet dinner with her boyfriend, stumbles across her neighbour's body. This unexpected incident sets in motion an unstoppable chain of events that leads to Abby's meeting with Melody Black. In a psychiatric ward.
The Mirror World of Melody Black tells us a story of a young woman suffering from depression. Seeing as the author has experienced mental breakdown himself, this story provides us a unique insight into a mind of a depressed person. And Abby is an excellent narrator. She is sarcastic, painfully honest, and her view of the world is incredibly fascinating.
Witty and compelling, this book won't leave you long after you finish it.
This story starts when Abigail Williams, freelance journalist, instead of having a quiet dinner with her boyfriend, stumbles across her neighbour's body. This unexpected incident sets in motion an unstoppable chain of events that leads to Abby's meeting with Melody Black. In a psychiatric ward.
The Mirror World of Melody Black tells us a story of a young woman suffering from depression. Seeing as the author has experienced mental breakdown himself, this story provides us a unique insight into a mind of a depressed person. And Abby is an excellent narrator. She is sarcastic, painfully honest, and her view of the world is incredibly fascinating.
Witty and compelling, this book won't leave you long after you finish it.
dahoambliebn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dessa's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think I've ever been so thoroughly mislead by a back cover blurb before. This novel promised mystery and a dead guy and maybe even something edging on supernatural. Maybe some David Mitchell-esque parallel world shit?
But nah. The concept of the mirror world isn't introduced until the 200~ish page, and Melody Black isn't really a central character at all? Instead, this novel is a very human look at mental illness from the inside a la Bell Jar. It's really quite a good book. I just feel cheated. Extence reeled me in with a sweet premise which he never actually fulfilled. (I blame the marketer. You did your job, but at what cost???)
But nah. The concept of the mirror world isn't introduced until the 200~ish page, and Melody Black isn't really a central character at all? Instead, this novel is a very human look at mental illness from the inside a la Bell Jar. It's really quite a good book. I just feel cheated. Extence reeled me in with a sweet premise which he never actually fulfilled. (I blame the marketer. You did your job, but at what cost???)
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing and searingly honest portrayal of living with bipolar disorder. It's so good it's hard to remember that it's a novel and not a first hand account. And it did make me cry on the bus - but only the once, about halfway through the book.
I don't know why I find novels that take mental illness as their central theme so affecting - perhaps because it's so brittle and so thin a line between coping and not coping. I know the portals to Melody Black's mirror world exist - I've seen them, I've just never stepped through one. If you've ever wondered what the soaring highs of bipolar mania are like - and the resulting deep depression that follows them - then this puts you right there inside Abby's head.
Brilliant and highly highly recommended - one of my favourite reads this year.
I don't know why I find novels that take mental illness as their central theme so affecting - perhaps because it's so brittle and so thin a line between coping and not coping. I know the portals to Melody Black's mirror world exist - I've seen them, I've just never stepped through one. If you've ever wondered what the soaring highs of bipolar mania are like - and the resulting deep depression that follows them - then this puts you right there inside Abby's head.
Brilliant and highly highly recommended - one of my favourite reads this year.