Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout

2 reviews

jordan_noel's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-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? Yes

3.25

I thought this book was sweet.

It's part of a series, but I read it as a standalone and think I understood it just fine.

It follows a divorced, now aged, couple and they reunite after one of them restarts the connection.

Not much happens in the book, but the characters reflect on past experiences, reasons they didn't work out as a couple, and their personality flaws. They support each other and begin to understand each other's boundaries, interests, and limits more as they take a trip together.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

One main character's husband is mentioned to have died. She talks about her experience handling his death and her grief throughout the book, but it is a reflection on the past. It's fairly mild. Both main characters have practiced infidelity. One of the main characters experiences panic attacks and the other doesn't really understand it.

samarakroeger's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

an enjoyable enough insomnia read with a strong narrative voice in the character of Lucy Barton.  I ended up feeling similarly to how I felt about My Name is Lucy Barton (I haven't read Anything is Possible).  kind of underwhelmed?  it's a pleasant read that flows well; Strout is great at using simple but effective prose.  I just think I haven't really connected or cared too much about any of the characters in these books.

I'll undoubtedly read more from Elizabeth Strout when I can't sleep, though -- her books seem to engage me on just the right level where I won't get too stressed, I might fall asleep, and the writing is straightforward enough to follow in a sleep-deprived state.  I swear this is a compliment.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Infidelity, Death, Eating disorder, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment