Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird

15 reviews

jenny_wren's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow! I loved this! Its about a virus that originated in Scotland but soon becomes a global pandemic. It tells the story from the perspectives of a range of characters - doctors, scientists and members of the public. The virus is carried by females but contracted by males who die with 2 to 3 days. It kills 90% of those who catch it. Its a race against time to find a vaccine but with so many deaths and experts lost, its a real challenge for those who survive. It affects all males - even new born babies. It looks at how the world will have to change because of a shortage of food, supplies and people.

This is such a thought provoking book that packs more of a punch because of COVID - even though it was written pre COVID. Something like this is a possibility now in a way it wasn't thought even probable before. I had to laugh in places how there were still those people who didn't think the virus was real and men believing it was a conspiracy - writing off women as hysterical and not knowing what they're talking about! 

This was amazing - it was a long book but I spent my whole Sunday reading it - just couldn't put it down!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Infertility, and Medical content

Minor: Sexism and Suicide

auteaandtales's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Racism, Gun violence, War, Cancer, Car accident, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Trafficking, and Transphobia

bookishbecky's review against another edition

4.0

I was hooked with this book and read it in 3 sittings. A plague which only affects men begins to spread in Scotland and the doctor who discovers it is ignored until it is too late. 

And so begins a heartbreaking book of loss, politics and change. I loved that the book showed that not all of the changes were bad (in the cases of better jobs and rights for women and the escape from domestic violence.) 

I also thought it was interesting that toward the end of the book there was commentary on many issues that affect women such as medical and safety equipment and that the remaining men were then struggling with the issues of objectification which women have discussed for so many years. 

I was shocked to find this was a debut as it was so gripping and brilliantly written. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. 

There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book so please do look them up before reading. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Suicide

kitty03's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, and Miscarriage

lpdx's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Medical content

Minor: Abandonment, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Ableism, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, and War