Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

26 reviews

casey_sunshine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Addiction, Mental illness, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Religious bigotry, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Excrement

Minor: Death of parent

kianastockwell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

Moderate: Self harm

aseel_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

hello my first five star fiction read of 2021 😍 this book was something else, it keeps coming to my mind randomly through my day.

a lot of this is to do with the adjacent relations I have to certain parts of the book, I'm doing a PhD, in psychology, looking at depression, I am a person of colour, I am religious. I just relate to a lot of different parts of the book, in slightly different ways so a lot of it hits me. 

the writing was phenomenal, the weaving style of narration was powerful, the plot was heartbreaking, the occasional psychology/neuroscience facts were lovely. big fan.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

ntvenessa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.75

I'm not sure I've ever read anything quite like this. It was gorgeous but gritty, and oh, my heart swelled when it did not outright burst. As an agnostic scientist myself who grew up surrounded by religion, this novel explores brilliantly that intersection that which is often seen as an unbridgeable divide. I am still unsure, but I am moved.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Vomit, and Child death

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

linesiunderline's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Some books display their brilliance to you almost immediately. Transcendent Kingdom is a book that reveals its brilliance slowly, quietly, until by the end you are left knowing that there is so much to this work that you have seen only some of its beauties, and even so, you are amazed.

I am only beginning to appreciate all of the things that are breathtaking about this book, that I know will linger with me, becoming part of me and how I see the world. You’re left with more questions than answers. Invitations to consider big things and small and the story of your own life.

Gifty will feel as real to you as anyone you’ve ever known. Her humanity and complexity may be the most impressive thing about this book. It’s certainly one of the most memorable. She is the heart of the novel.

Transcendent Kingdom will be one of my top reads of this year. I cannot recommend it highly enough and also have to praise Bahni Turpin’s stellar audio performance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, and Vomit

Minor: Excrement, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

krissy0906's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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

4.25

Transcendent Kingdom is such a beautiful book. It so depressing but tinged with a little bit of hope. I’m so happy I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Moderate: Racism

nell_bell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Racism, Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Minor: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent

stayathomereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Mental illness, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Infertility

Animal testing/experimentation

loraora's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racism, and Racial slurs

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt