Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Death Valley by Melissa Broder

38 reviews

zippysherman's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Chronic illness

grunbean's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

I mulled this over, and I think this is one almost deserving of a five star. It’s cerebral, and can take some time to digest in parts. But I couldn’t put it down for long at all.

It’s a very reflective, and funny, story. Although I was in suspense for most of her journey! I think the prose is beautiful. I’m not sure how to describe this book in a few words. It’s different, that’s for sure.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Grief, Blood, and Death

elanuruysal's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content

Minor: Chronic illness and Addiction

a_novel_craving's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Medical trauma, Blood, Alcohol, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

elbauer002's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.5

Home girl has a strange vibe but it grew on me. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Chronic illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, and Grief

carly_reads's review

emotional funny reflective

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“Help me not be empty,” I say to god in the Best Western parking lot.

If I’m honest, I came to escape a feeling- an attempt that’s already going poorly because unfortunately I’ve brought myself with me.

People are such a commitment. I would "reach out" more often if everyone promised not to check in again later.

I always say that I don’t believe a person has to suffer to make art. But that’s only because I imagine it’s true for others (also, I don’t want to be accused of inspiring teen suicide).

Melissa has such a distinct writing style, I think I could recognize it anywhere. She has the sharp ability to meld together big themes with the most absurd situations you could ever come up with. I feel like she’s also able to be concise with what she’s trying to say, but still make an impact. In this case, I think she’s making a statement about how you can’t avoid/escape your life and feelings forever as well as finding the silver linings in life despite circumstances. This felt like an exploration into depression, anticipatory grief, so much anxiety you can’t live your life, how the wants and needs of your inner child never go away, and searching for reasons that would make life meaningful. 

This truly reads like a fever dream- very surreal and absurd but in a good way. I think it was very different than her other books. The main character is much more redeemable (imo lol). I appreciated the commentary about how hard being a caregiver for a loved one with a chronic illness can be. I think it’s unfair to assume that people don’t have less than positive feelings when put in that position despite wanting to be there for that person. I think the author does a good job saying things that a lot of people think but are too afraid to say (both in that context and generally). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Chronic illness, and Grief

Moderate: Blood and Excrement

lindsayerin's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Medical content, and Excrement

Moderate: Chronic illness

gondorgirl's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Chronic illness, Death, and Car accident

rosyapple's review against another edition

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

2.0

didn't enjoy this one. if it sounds interesting i would recommend mona awad's "alls well" instead. on the other hand if you enjoyed "something new under the sun" by alexandra kleeman then you probably would like this book 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Excrement, Grief, and Body horror

Minor: Blood

economydreams's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Medical content

Minor: Addiction