Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

10 reviews

tree_star's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad

• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

This book punched me in the gut but it was so worth it. I had a difficult time with some of the family tropes and children as salve for the soul, but the reflections on that particular life redeemed me and I've take back the eye rolling. Sorta.
What a fun read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Animal death, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexism, Addiction, and Misogyny

celestialg's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

Listen - this book cured my depression. 
Okay so that’s a joke, but honestly, anyone who has dealt with depression, suicidal ideation, or even just complete failure and despair will resonate with this story. Despite the topic, the book made me feel quite hopeful and grateful for my life. I see it as a novel length thought experiment about the “what if’s” in our lives we may ruminate on. 
Ultimately I don’t often dole out 5 star reviews. Only the books that change my life get those. Please read this book, if you’re in a place to do so. Anyone and everyone could benefit from its themes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Self harm, Medical content, Animal death, Infidelity, Grief, Death, Body shaming, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Cancer, and Alcoholism

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Vomit

CW for self injury and self harm, as well as suicidal thoughts and ideation. These topics are central to the story, not a passing plot point, so those sensitive to these topics should use their discretion.

arbramirez's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Death, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mental illness, and Car accident

angelbabe_cj's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Car accident, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Drug use, and Vomit

andersonmm223's review

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Gaslighting

Minor: Toxic relationship, Car accident, Body shaming, and Stalking

staceymertens's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Drug use, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

iksme's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

5.0

This is a beautiful exploration of what it is like to be depressed and suicidal. It is so real and I can very much relate to Nora

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, and Grief

mnbesser522's review

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Grief, and Infidelity

Minor: Body shaming

madmilliner's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This book is the hug and the cuppa that I desperately needed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Death, Animal death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug use, and Mental illness

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Self harm

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Terminal illness

msbarnesela's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

2.75

This book reminds me of The Five People You Meet in Heaven and It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s ok, but not really my kind of book. I knew how it was going to end from pretty much the second chapter, and I found the plot to be really predictable. I also feel like it in some ways downplays the impact of mental illness, suicide, and depression, in that

Nora decides after experimenting with a lot of different lives that she really does want to live after all, is able to wake herself up from her overdose, and suddenly just gets over her depression, and everyone reconciles with her, and she just decides to be happy. I don’t think real life is ever that simple, and I don’t think depression suddenly becomes manageable just because you choose to be happy. I don’t like when books use suicide as a plot device.

Overall, it just wasn’t the right book for me. It wasn’t what I was looking for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide