Reviews tagging 'Death'

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

103 reviews

hanhantap's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Self harm, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Rape

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Infidelity

eicart_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

I almost put this book down because I thought it was kinda boring at first (maybe the first 35 percent.) I expected a fast paced thriller/mystery, but that's not what this book is. I started to understand the bigger picture, let go of the idea that it was a typical thriller, and kept listening. I'm so glad I did because I ended up loving this! The book has so much to say about so many things: violence against women, racism in policing and criminal investigations, memories, family relationships, misogyny, social/economic class privilege, the use of social media to examine crimes... and a lot more.

The storytelling device used by the author to bring attention to the ever present news stories of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and violence against women was equal parts brilliant and heart wrenching. 

If you're looking for a mystery/thriller/true crime book that is straightforward and wraps things up in a neat bow, this is not the book for you. 

The audio is fantastic, narrated by Julia Whelan with a small cameo by JD Jackson. 

There is a lot of potentially triggering content in this book. Be mindful and maybe check The StoryGraph before diving in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, and Racism

Minor: Terminal illness, Self harm, Eating disorder, Cancer, and Death

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I like a book that makes me think. SOME QUESTIONS had me reflect on how we so often only construct narratives around justice to serve ourselves, as well as the sheer challenge of being a woman in this world. It made me angry—not because of the book itself, but rather because I share in its exhaustion over the many harmful ramifications of the patriarchy.

I know it's not perfect—some characters are thinly fleshed out, it critiques true crime as a genre without ever truly being able to escape it—but it had me hooked and it had me ponder and, for me, that's enough.

(I also found it cathartic reading about a private school and realising what bizarre, intense, and intoxicating places they can be.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Grief, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Death, Sexism, Racism, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide attempt

ecn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Death, Classism, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Rape, Physical abuse, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Racism, Mental illness, Infidelity, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Body shaming

katarinabee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book is like the first season of the Serial podcast, crossed with the dark academia vibes of Tartt's "The Secret History".  It examines true crime as a genre - such as how invested we can get in a crime; how difficult it can be to find the "truth"; and the power/limitations of "citizen detectives". There's also a deep dive into cancel culture - how it can be important and useful for challenging abusers in positions of power, but also looking at  problematic aspects too. I watched Contrapoints' video essay on YouTube about cancel culture around the same time as reading this book, which was a really nice complement. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Racism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, and Drug use

kathleenthebean's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Racism, Blood, Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

soobooksalot's review against another edition

informative mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

jesselopod's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.25

A well written book with a disappointing plot 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Cancer, Murder, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Rape

adrose18's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

 phew. So I am not a true crime girl at all. And I tend only do relatively cozy historical mysteries. BUT I loved this book. I listened to the audiobook (shoutout to Julia Whelan who I know isn’t everyone’s cup of tea) which prevented me from spoiling it for myself. Lots to think about. Lots to unpack. Lots of content warnings (sexual assault, creepy ass teachers, domestic violence). But I found it just fabulous and can’t wait to read The Great Believers (which I understand is really very different.) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Child death, Domestic abuse, Death, Murder, and Gaslighting

heather3879's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

This is the first book I have read by Makkai, and it was solid. They story focuses on Bodie Kane, a podcaster who returns to her boarding school ostensibly as a visiting professor, but with the underlying intention of resolving some questions about the murder of her school roommate. It addresses inequities in the justice system; wealth, privilege, and power; and deeply ingrained misogyny. I do think Makkai could have eliminated some tangential characters and narratives that made the book difficult to follow at times, but overall it was a good read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence