Reviews with content warning for Mass/school shootings - Mrs Death Misses Death

The writing style is what made me read it entiterly. Because the story doesn't seem to go anywhere when u read it. I don't think it does. But through the story a lot of themes are "talked about". Like barely. Just à hint.
And that's what's weird to me, it seems to be a message but you can't figure it out.
Plus there are some disturbing scenes and I don't know why they're here. Like how was it revenant to the story.

At some point there's a scene where a black girl takes her tit out at laugh, stick her tongue out too. And for no reason. To see her as the bad twin there were other ways than depicting a black girl in the 1700 as crazy. I mean I get it, kind of, the point she's trying to make. I don't see how this in particular was useful.

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rieviolet's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

This book is certainly quite peculiar in terms of narrative form and also of point of view (the chapters from the perspective of a desk, I mean what was that?!).
I think that when it worked for me, it worked really really well and I was left really impressed by the writing style and the profound and poignant exploration of a certain topic. However, when it didn't work, it really really didn't work for me and I just felt very confused and like the narrative style had been overdone a bit too much.
Also, some sections where the character of Death was talking sounded to me too much like an essay, maybe too much "telling, and not showing", not very subtly handled.

At times it felt a bit overly graphic (the list of content warnings is so long that, honestly, it'd be easier to say what is not included) and I'm not sure if it was really necessary for the story. So many examples of very brutal crimes are included and the section with example after example of different types of deaths is quite taxing to get through.

I think it was a bit of a mixed bag for me but I'm still glad to have tried something a bit out of of my literary comfort zone.

You grow and
become who you are
you grow into your shape
I could have been anything
but this was the shape the world
carved into me.

Content Warnings

rugbygirlreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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merrynld's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

When I was only 10% of the way through this, I messaged a friend to say "I think I'm currently reading the best book I've ever read" and, now I've finished it, I stand by that wholeheartedly. I can't even put in to words why. If you are feeling lost and / or angry in the world, read this book. It will change how you see your life and what you do with it.

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