Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones

10 reviews

littlepepperguy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Definitely sad, for sure be ready for something heavy and real. A really intricately weaved story of  interconnecting people with seemingly little in common other than a man making a victim of them (specifically one man but also men in general). Deals with the struggles of patriarchy and the fact that no one thrives within the suffocating environment of white supremacist western colonial patriarchy, not even the men, especially not the men of color in 1970's Barbados within the novel. Although it is set in the past and a window to how that specific time and place and those specific women were affected, it is a great allegory for how women are deeply affected by gender roles and abuse. Very intersectional and again super depressing. I'm white and was socialized as a woman and I think it is of utmost importance to read novels that show the difference in treatment between white woman and women of color. Intersectionality bb.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, Medical trauma, Grief, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Death, Sexism, Child death, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Infertility

kyladenae94's review against another edition

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Child death

Moderate: Infidelity, Gun violence, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts

boba_n_books's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I am absolutely blown away by Cherie Jones’ novel. I can’t believe this is a debut! 

The way the characters’ stories weaved together seamlessly keeps the reader wanting more. 

Some books I find the need to keep a pen nearby because so many phrases strike me as beautiful—this was one of those books. I’d describe much of the prose as poetic. And this flow made me fly through the pages. 

The mystery, intrigue, suspicions, and relationships really make this story come to life. You get to know each character deeply through their backstories and similar traumas. Jones brings the past and present together with ease showing the reader how we’re all connected at the end of the day. 

I highly recommend this book. But definitely check the content warnings since many heavy topics are explored. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Child death, Grief, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Gun violence

Moderate: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Infidelity

Minor: Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

utopiaandmelancholy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is easily the darkest, most traumatic book I have read in a long time, so if there are any subjects you find difficult to read about, it may be best avoided. However, I adored it. The writing had me gripped. I found getting the perspectives of a number of different characters about the central events of the narrative and all the surrounding history really transfixed me to the tragedy of it all. I really felt for most of the characters, trapped in their seemingly hopeless situations - parts of Lala's story made me want to cry. The violence in the story is graphic in places (particularly Mira's chapters at the start), and yet so matter of fact in others. I also really appreciated Mira's storyline and thoughts, both for its exploration of grief, shock, and guilt, and for the way her mixed heritage impacts on her life in Barbados and in England. A heartbreaking and stunning debut.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Rape, and Infertility

Moderate: Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Vomit, Abortion, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Drug use, Incest, and Toxic friendship

emsky's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, and Murder

annabulkowski's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Incest, Infertility, Gun violence, Grief, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, and Confinement

sarah984's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

This is a multi-pov novel set in Barbados in (aside from a few flashbacks) 1984 showcasing the explosive ways several people’s disparate lives come together in one moment in time. 

This book left me a little conflicted. In a general technical sense, the writing is beautiful, particularly in the sections in second person, and while there was sort of a feeling of being somehow distanced from the characters I think that might be necessary to get through some of the story’s tough subject matter.

I was expecting a heavy read but maybe not quite this heavy. The hopeful note at the end was nice but I was left wondering what I should be taking away aside from how difficult everyone's lives were.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Police brutality, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, and Stalking

Minor: Ableism, Abortion, Drug use, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Vomit

pollyflorence's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

womanwill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity

Minor: Abortion, Dementia, Drug use, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

thebakerbookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A hard story with some achingly compelling characters, this book feels like poetry. The setting is vivid, and it portrays a sharp contrast between rich and poor, black and white, woman and man. The title comes from a legend that Lala's grandmother tells her at the beginning, a cautionary tale that underlies the entire book. The story also explores how violence effects different people's lives.

We get several perspectives, and each new perspective adds a new layer to the story, giving complexity to every character, even those that at first appear to be minor. Connections between characters slowly unfold, as the timeline jumps around from present to past. Lala is a strong lead; you feel for her and how she struggles to break out of the life she's trapped in. She's experienced so much tragedy yet is still determined and strong and loving, and I loved seeing her growth throughout the story.

This book was hard to read at times (a lot of tragic backstory), but these characters will grip you and refuse to let go. This is not a story to be forgotten.

I listened to the audio, and the narration was perfection.

Thank you to Libro.fm, Hachette Audio, and the author for the ALC.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Animal death and Blood