Reviews tagging 'Death'

Poza królestwo by Yaa Gyasi

329 reviews

hannahreflects's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.25

A very quiet, gently-paced book, yet incredibly raw and dark. I haven't read many books like it, and I was unfamiliar with many of the themes and experiences explored throughout. Beautiful, hard-hitting reflections on family, grief, mental health, community, identity, and the meaning of life. Yaa Gyasi's writing is incredible, but if you're looking for a fast-paced, plot-heavy read, this is not the one for you. I have to admit I was feeling a little unsatisfied at the end - can't really articulate why - but it was quite the emotional journey and I certainly don't regret reading it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Mental illness

stellaperlic's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

An amazing story that read like a memoir. I thought Yaa Gysai was able to capture very complex feelings in a beautiful way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Racism

pandact's review against another edition

emotional 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

   This book nailed my feelings with scientific precision, and Gyasi simultaneously leaves room for different kinds of faith. This reflective fine-tuning happened to be exactly what I was looking for, plus the slightly lonely and queer first-generation bildungsroman. I'd read a whole book where they dive into ethical and religious questions!

   I hope it's also impactful for others who read it, and it shares similar themes with Freshwater, Liturgists, Semler, and the X-files.

   Spoilers in tags

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Medical content, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal cruelty and Child abuse

Also I thought the ending made sense, almost like when a documentary flashes forward before the credits. The mother still wrapped up the emotional arc better than I expected from getting it spoiled in reviews!

ksuazo94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

A beautiful and painful book that demands the reader's full attention. Gyasi doesn't lay things out A then B then C; instead, she gives us a puzzle of C then A then Q and trusts that we as readers are clever enough and paying enough attention to put the pieces together.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

m0j's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse

Minor: Suicide attempt

kyana_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

charaktere:
Gifty hat mich so beeindruckt und hab sie so bewundert. vor allem für ihre persönliche Entwicklung, teilweise war ich schon bisschen stolz auf sie als sie am ende dann mit han zsm gekommen ist und überhaupt nicht mehr diese Bindungsängste hatte wie mit Raymond (den mochte ich eh nicht). 
fand die Beschreibung der mutter auch so gut, diese Hassliebe (hass ist vlt bisschen zu stark) zwischen mutter und Tochter ist super erzählt und man kann es total gut nachempfinden.
was ich bei Gift vermisst hab an manchen stellen war die reflektion. sie hat immer alles reflektiert und man hatte als Leserin daran teilgenommen aber z.b. als sie im college was mit ihrer Freundin Anna oder Anne hatte, hat sie das irgendwie gar nicht gross reflektiert, das fand ich bisschen unrealistisch, weil sie ja schon sehr religiös aufgewachsen ist und es dann sinn machen würde immerhin ein bisschen innerlich mit sich zu ringen wenn man eine gleichgeschlechtliche Beziehung führt



story:
plot fand ich super gut, immer spannend, konnte es nicht weglegen und sind mir alle ans herz gewachsen. 
was ich aber  etwas schade fand, war, dass das ende ein bisschen zu plötzlich kam. ich hatte das Gefühl viele dinge waren nicht so ganz abgeschlossen und dann aufneinmal stirbt die mutter und Ahn und Gift leben zusammen. das ende für die mutter fand ich auch etwas schade, hätte mir ein anderes ende für sie gewünscht, oder genauere Beschreibung, ausführlicher... 

look:
das format/ die ausgabe vom buch die ich hatte war leider +berhaupt nicht schön (war aber auch ausgeliehen). war viel zu gross und sperrig, Seiten waren zu dick, Schrift war schön und angenehm zu lesen aber hätte auch kleiner sein können von mir aus. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, and Grief

elenaand's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, and Suicide attempt

hollyp20's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide attempt

iisa's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt