Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

7 reviews

ashwaar's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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

4.0

It took me months to finish reading this book! When I began it was very strong and I loved the sharpness of the writing but near the end, I thought it was floundering around. It became a bit over-the-top and dramatic for me but I do think that overall it’s a really strong character story on family, community, trauma, and gentrification.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Colonisation, Death of parent, Self harm, Classism, Cursing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, and Racism

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

imds's review

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Addiction, Grief, Rape, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, and Racial slurs

Minor: Abortion

kiramke's review

emotional 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

4.0

 Excellent story. Complex characters that are sympathetic and aggravating in a real way. It's nice to see someone address the messed up way Puerto Rico is treated, and in a realistic context. Despite myself I was super invested in the family dynamic, horrified and frustrated and invested.

My two complaints are that this should come with a trigger warning for a rape scene that in my view wasn't necessary, and dealt with rather perfunctorily. The stakes were enough without throwing that in to raise them; we see that too much as it is.
The ending, as well, is a bit too pat, not that these characters don't deserve some resolution, but it feels like a very different grade of writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, and Outing

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Drug use

mschmidt's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Classism, Colonisation, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault and Racism

Minor: Abortion, Drug use, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Grief, Infertility, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

emmstuke's review

challenging emotional reflective tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Outing, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

nrogers_1030's review

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Colonisation, Suicide, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Addiction, and Terminal illness

Minor: Infertility, Slavery, and Abortion

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Colonisation, Grief, Homophobia, Outing, Rape, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug abuse and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion and Infertility