Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Паперовий палац by Miranda Cowley Heller

81 reviews

hanngigi's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Alcohol

mellimeldisiel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

Not my type of read - difficult, challenging, full of lies and deception that examines the best and worst of humanity side-by-side and places people in impossible situations that are poignantly perfect. The prose is astounding: sweeping grand details and minor aspects vivified with language and longing that was addictive and repulsive in subject matter at times. A mixed read - well written but not my favourite. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment

talyahonor23's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

While I enjoyed the reading this book and the writing style, I hated every single character.  Why did shegave to go into so much deatil with the child abuse? Even the adult sex scenes were either violent or too explicit.  And Why was everyone so rich and so beautiful? The only one who is considered neither is poor Gina. There was also a lot of sexual violence against most females characters as well as everyone leading very shitty lives. Was no one allowed ro be happy for real? I hate cheaters but I was intrigued by their story. The author is a little dated...using butter on a burn has been considered an old wives tale for years. Her obsession with meat and dairy is also a little out of touch. But it was an easy and interesting read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

saoreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

It's amusing how the journey went from initially disliking the main character to gradually rooting for her, but not really (picky on some parts). There are reasons behind every action and the subsequent consequences, regardless of how positive or dire they may be. If it's not you fulfilling something in that life, something is bound to happen. The subtleties throughout the book, along with metaphors leading up to the years portrayed, shed light on generational patterns. Ultimately, it's her choice, and the outcome remains uncertain. The ending brings about new beginnings—whether good or bad, it could be either or even both.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

eule's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

This book is haunting and beautiful at the same time. The characters were incredibly vivid and traceable meaning that you could feel how torn apart Elle is between the past and the present. Lovely depiction of nature and the fragility of relationships. 
So much (!!!) emotional trauma in one book. Please check the trigger warnings, it gets pretty graphic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Grief

isabezza's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

I was recommended this book as "one to read in the sun" by a close friend who shares my interest in emotional, reflective reads. Miranda Cowley Heller writes a powerful monologue on motherhood and living with multiple forms of trauma. This novel is a difficult read, but one which inspires the importance of the people around us, and encourages us to question who we love and what we would do for them. 

Knowledge can be power, but it can also be poison. 

There is no such thing as unforgivable between people who love each other. But even as I'm thinking it, I know it's not really true. 

Although the ending of this book was a little underwhelming, this captures the nature of this book, demonstrating that whatever we do (or do not do), life continues. Set in a cycle of summers and the Paper Palace, we follow our protagonist as she describes her family, their flaws and losses; as she reflects on her traumatic past. 

I wonder if he would love me if he could see inside my head - the pettiness, the dirty linen of my thoughts, the terrible things I have done. 

 
I did not find this book as gripping, powerful, or 'lifechanging' as I had hoped, but would recommend to someone who enjoys a similar writing style. 

The passage of time bought only a messy tangle of branches, marking my failure to heal. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

amberday27's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Sexual harassment

scewart's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I loved the writing style, the twists you discover throughout the book, and the alternating timeline. However, I didn’t enjoy the entirety of the resolution buildup at the end of the book being washed away in the final paragraph. If the book had ended a few pages earlier, it was likely to receive a four star rating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cancer, Death, Incest, and Grief

lbh_0327's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

dreadpiraterudis's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Lots of trigger warnings for this book. Had way more traumatic content than I thought was necessary- not really sure the suffering furthered the plot in a tangible way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Murder