Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

56 reviews

moony_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I don’t really think I could possibly ever find the words to describe what I feel right now. 

In Memoriam is sensational. Beautifully raw and gripping with the most talented prose and narration I’ve read in a while. It’s intimate, it’s genuine, it’s moving and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. 

I don’t think I have it in me to write a full review now, but I might be able to later. It’s just an instant classic and I don’t have words.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

terranstorm's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This was well done. I don't reach for historical fiction very often, no special interest in WWI here, but I really loved this. I appreciated the way the story is carried both by our two mains AND their many letters with various others. Oh! And even the printed reports of casualties and the injured (which I say first in the ebook, then experienced differently in the audiobook; it was surprisingly well-managed for the audio format). 

The thread of slowly building romance between Ellwood and Gaunt felt well-balanced with the drama and action, contemplation of the machine of war, and the very deep, very personal injuries both suffered (physically and mentally). The prose is lovely and slow and haunting throughout. They struggle and don't necessarily "get better" but they keep trying, work to grow and forgive.

It's not a one-to-one comparison at all, but: I think this is great for fans of works like the Song of Achilles. Although it's a different sort of tragedy than that, the feeling was along the same lines: I went into this looking for a good, hearty cry and boy, I got it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Homophobia, and Classism

Minor: Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Claustrophobia including

a tunnel collapse and near-drowning incident

atamano's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Sexism and Death of parent

hmatt's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

Starting off 2025 strong with this incredibly powerful read. I won't say I "enjoyed" it as such, because... war novel... graphic, gore-y violence and PTSD, but if you are alright to read on these themes I strongly recommend.

The characters' perspectives and emotions are conveyed in that just-right balance where they are (probably?) historically accurate - some level of repressed, some level of entitled public school boy, etc. Even though the narrative focuses on two privileged men, I thought the author did an alright job of incorporating other diverse voices into the story. The incredible class privilege of the two MCs is definitely consistently acknowledged.

I could "leave" some of the quotations from ancient epics and old poets I haven't read, but I don't feel alienated by their inclusion. In the context of the MCs and their upbringings and personalities, they make sense.

Format note: I really enjoyed this audiobook. The production is exceptionally well thought-through and the narrator does the different character voices impeccably.

I feel that the author did an excellent job acknowledging the not-happy parts of the "happy" ending, e.g. all of Ellwood's friends died, they ended up "in exile" of a sort, PTSD doesn't just disappear, etc.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

xeroxi's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Antisemitism and Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent

madamelacy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent

natalielcheung's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ambersoda's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Medical content, and Alcohol

Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism

gentlemanjack's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and War