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ju_harue's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.0
Achei a escrita poderosamente bem narrada, mesclando entre uma visão infantil mais descritivamente "simples" e a complexidade das emoções e acontecimentos que vão impactando a vida e crescimento de Claudia. Com assuntos bem fortes, a vida acontecendo da perspectiva da criança é potente, os abismos presentes e pertinentes. Termino essa leitura com um misto de emoções, que vão de uma "coisa gostosa na barriga e o medo, a vontade de pular e de recuar".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
shankarhere's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
anna_pardo's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
M'ha agradat moltíssim. Ha estat molt interessant veure no només una crisi matrimonial, sinó una d'existencial, a través de la mirada d'una nena. Una nena que acaba construïnt el seu món a través de pèrdues, morts, silencis, absències i abismes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol
internationalreads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
sidekicksam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Abyss centers around Claudia, the eight year old daughter of Claudia and Jorge, who grows up in Cali, Colombia. She witnesses her mother’s affair with her sister-in-law’s husband, and when her father discovers the affair, she witnesses the slow break of her mother’s spirits, her parents’ marriage, and witnesses them slowly drift off towards the abyss.
Story-wise, this felt like another blow to the gut as it was like reading my own experience. Though I didn’t witness it myself, like Claudia did, what happened to her parents’ marriage also happened in my life, around the same age.
Perhaps that is why I connected to the story better than others who reviewed it, but I never felt the tone of voice was unbelievable for a girl of eight. Witnessing and experiencing something as raw and frightening as your mother’s descent into depression, as well as the crumbling of your parents’ marriage, makes you grow up faster.
Ultimately, I felt the ending was a bit too abrupt for my liking, but this short book is a stellar novella and well worth your time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
This book was poignant and emotional. So many moments I had to pause to take in what I was reading. You rarely get a book from a child's perspective, especially with so many dark themes. Claudia witnesses so much without truly comprehending what is going on but she feels it all. As adults I think we take for granted that a child can take in the negative energy without understanding in full what is happening around them. I wanted more at the end...I wanted to know if she was going to be ok...unfortunately this book ends too abruptly for me. Maybe it was meant to leave us hanging but I wish there was more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Suicide
lizlikesfrogs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Death
bruathayde's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent