Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

180 reviews

electropuff12's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a heartbreaking book. The hope, disappointment, misery, frustration, fear and love felt by Mariam and Laila throughout the book is so powerful and captivating. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War

This book contains lots of heavy themes and graphic descriptions, which are used to paint the lives and experiences of the main protagonists and those around them.

monicalaurette's review against another edition

I DNFed this book at 49% and let me tell you why: I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Kite Runner to start, so I went into this book wondering if I’d like it more. I did but only by a little bit. 

For me it’s more on Khaled’s writing style and prose than the actual story he told. So because of that, and the fact I could tell how the story would end based on the summary and sections of the book I did read, I decided to not continue reading it.

One thing I felt was interesting was that both girls had sort of the same relationships with their parents for the majority of the time. Both loved their fathers and while they loved their mothers, had a more stand-offish relationship with them. And sadly when both parents left their lives, it was through trauma and heartbreak.

With Khaled’s stories that I’ve read, I just find it also uncomfortable to have miscarriage and a woman’s infertility something that is part of the story. Like the only thing left to make them a true woman is ripped away but then “hey! Here’s a child that you didn’t birth but you’ll now love and you’re whole again” rubbed me the wrong way. Especially as someone who has fertility issues (though I never plan to have children, but still). And while I’m not an amputee or know anyone who is (that I can recall right now while writing this) having Laila compare the loss of Tariq to phantom limb pain was off-putting, but I also see why that specific comparison was made towards Tariq since he was, in fact, missing a leg and had a prosthetic.

Perhaps if I watched this as a movie or show instead of reading it I’d finish it. But I know the ending (broadly) and don’t really care about the characters, I don’t know if I’ll ever search that out.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

awreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide, Violence, and War

natapata's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

incredible. holy shit. one of the best books i've ever read - beautiful prose, a heartbreaking story, and insanely compelling characters. don't read in public though because i cried a LOT haha. i think what really makes it such a punch in the gut is how grounded in truth you know the plot is, so not only do you mourn the characters, but you mourn every single real person who you know has gone through the same thing or even worse. but god, what an amazing read - essential!!

cry count: at least 3/4 i think? couldn't really keep track because was so invested in this captivating novel!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Suicide

bkahmann's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Genuinely would give this 100 stars if I could. If this isn’t my favourite book, it’s certainly in my top three. I reread it every couple of years and each time I’ll cry at least 4 or 5 times while reading. The writing is beautiful, the characters are complex, just….wow. The ending is so beautifully executed too and leaves you with this feeling of perseverance and hope. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Xenophobia, and Abandonment

✨ emotional damage ✨

spencerjie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

this book is, understandably, incredibly dark. taking place in war-torn Afghanistan, these personal stories get to the root of the effects of war, traditionalism, womanhood, religion, and so much more. gorgeous prose and insightful storytelling. i would be very cautious and cognizant that you are in a decent mental health space before you read this book because it is nothing short of brutal from beginning to end.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

kate_przy's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, and War

eellikk's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

joodreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

cappuccino_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, and War