Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

All's Well by Mona Awad

53 reviews

julia_jojo17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Ableism and Addiction

fandomsandfiction's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.25

A bizarre rating for a bizarre book! This is my second encounter with Mona Awad's work and it was just as surreal and unpredictable as the first. 

"All's Well" is the story of former stage actress Miranda whose life in the spotlight is cut short after a nasty fall leaves her with chronic pain and an addiction to painkillers. The woman who once graced the stage, bringing popular plays to life, is now relegated to working a college drama course where she directs talentless students in the art of performance. And she hates it. That is until three strange men (peep the three witches from Macbeth) enter her life and offer her a fantastical opportunity to turn it all around.

This is a story that explores the struggles of chronic suffering, medical trauma, and female pain. Mona Awad takes 'mid-life crisis' to a whole new realm of conception with her eerie portrayal of a woman living in deep pain, deep envy, and deep fear. Reading this book made me think that if Oscar Wilde, Franz Kafka, and Hayao Miyazaki put together their most bizarre but brilliant ideas, this would be the result. And of course, we cannot forget Shakespeare. He is the key influencer and motif of this story. Drawing on Shakespeare's "All's Well That Ends Well" and "Macbeth", Mona Awad presents a story that encompasses his many 'tragic heroes' but set in a modern world. However, despite all the links I could make between this book and other writers, "All's Well" is quintessentially Mona Awad.

Awad writes books that reflect and critique the human psyche. I believe her protagonists are fundamentally unlikeable BECAUSE they show the innermost facets - desires, beliefs, inhibitions, unbridled emotions, etc. - of human character. These protagonists think and act and express in a way that makes you want to turn away in disagreement or revulsion, but at the same time, a part of you may empathize and/or relate. Like Mona Awad's other works, "All's Well" plays on the perception of reality. The story is told through Miranda's twisted, distressed, and unreliable point of view. This creates a narrative made up of superstitious imaginings, rudimentary thoughts, questionable happenings, and dubious deductions stemming from Miranda's own insecurities. Emotions are conveyed with depth and viscera. Commentary is made on gender and patriarchy. Flaws in the art, medical, AND education systems are brought to light. The use of intertextuality is brilliant. I mean, using one of Shakespeare's problem plays to create a problem story of your own? That's pretty badass Ms Awad! 

I had great fun wrapping my mind around the peculiar world of "All's Well" and picking apart my own brain as I pick apart the storyline. I am already desperate to pick up another book by this author! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Drug abuse

dhritigupta's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this was a wacky and surreal book that would have maybe benefitted from being shorter? i liked the narrative tone but since there was a lot of internal monologue involved, it dragged on sometimes.

it was interesting to read this after rouge, and spot the occasional similarities between the protagonists and the themes! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Ableism, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Suicidal thoughts

noshinbean's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual content, Blood, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship

xbernadette's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Drug abuse

remuslibrary's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Blood

booksofautumn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

orlagal's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Ableism, Death, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Medical content, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Grief, and Sexual content

raitherabbit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.5

As someone who does theatre, this book wrecked me. As someone who also has a degree in psychology, this book was fascinating and kept me asking for more. Watching the slow downfall of someone you supposedly root for is excruciating, but also satisfying. There was no way I would predict how any of this ended (both the play and the plot itself). I do think things will get better after this. In other news, female rage is a powerful thing and it was made more interesting by the intricate interpersonal relationships Ms. Fitch had with her students and coworkers. I rooted for everyone but also wished for their downfall. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Ableism, Blood, Cursing, Chronic illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Death

allapaz's review against another edition

5.0

i saw another review call this psychological horror meets shakespeare and honestly that's my dream come true

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Chronic illness