Scan barcode
dudeguyface's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma
rachelly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
luckykosmos's review against another edition
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Incredibly stressful, I'm obsessed. I think people who didn't quite click with Bunny should give this one a shot - the way that All's Well and Macbeth as stories were paralleled in the story, how Miranda was using those around her as set dressing for reclaiming the life before her injury, was amazing. I adore Mona Award.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Medical trauma
pagesfromhome's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Awad really went there with this one. I have literally never read a book like this one in the best way possible.
Her stream-of-consciousness first-person writing is impeccable and pulls you through Miranda's story wonderfully. You go from pitying her to hating her to questioning her to fearing her to being scared for her, and through all of it you're left wondering what in the world could happen next. Awad does an incredible job of weaving Shakespearean nods throughout the characters and the plot seamlessly and it was really fascinating to see how she used that in her craft.
This also does a wonderful job of highlighting what it is to live with chronic pain with the need to be a "good patient" and how anger and fear can get involved. All in all, I'd call this a perfect book club pick or definitely one to add to your list if you like a story that keeps you guessing at every turn.
Her stream-of-consciousness first-person writing is impeccable and pulls you through Miranda's story wonderfully. You go from pitying her to hating her to questioning her to fearing her to being scared for her, and through all of it you're left wondering what in the world could happen next. Awad does an incredible job of weaving Shakespearean nods throughout the characters and the plot seamlessly and it was really fascinating to see how she used that in her craft.
This also does a wonderful job of highlighting what it is to live with chronic pain with the need to be a "good patient" and how anger and fear can get involved. All in all, I'd call this a perfect book club pick or definitely one to add to your list if you like a story that keeps you guessing at every turn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction
venice_the_vampire's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
god i love love LOVED the beginning of the book and the depictions of chronic pain so much, they way they were written were so interesting and real and relatable. i also really love that i was at times angrily on miranda’s side, while at other times i felt horrifically guilty for almost beginning to doubt her pain and deem her an unreliable narrator, like everyone else in her life clearly has. the book was a bit confusing, and the end didn’t quite satisfy me, but i still absolutely adored the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood and Gaslighting
kittiesss's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism and Addiction
biobeetle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death
ecb03's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
fandomsandfiction's review
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!
"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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse