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sapphicspines's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
4.0
Lots of TW’s for this book as it delves heavily but sometimes subtly into depression and suicide. The book follows Claudia, an 8-year old girl, as she navigates the relationships of her family members. We see her father who’s always working and her mother who’s often sad and unfulfilled at home. When someone new arrives in their life, things start to spiral a bit more and cracks in their family become larger. I found it hard to read a lot at once because of how sad it is, but I enjoyed the innocent perspective of seeing all these adult relationships and feelings through the eyes of a child. There were a few points where the narrative seemed to change and felt a little too mature for the child, but otherwise held true.
I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this sad little book, I’m a sucker for a mental health narrative. This one is told through the eyes of a child, eight-year-old Claudia who lives with her parents in Colombia. Though she continually watches her parents, her mother who suffers from depression, and her overworked father, she often doesn’t fully grasp the complexity of the adults’ lives around her - but she understands enough. The depiction of depression and suicidal tendencies in this book are brutal, so do look after yourself if you read it, but it’s so well done. The imagery of that cliff road with the fog and the steep drop-off - glorious. Your heart will break for Claudia, ten times over, during the course of this book.
Excellent translation by Lisa Dillman
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
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
mirva's review against another edition
reflective
- 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? No
4.5
This story is masterfully told entirely from the perspective of a young child. The writer captures the inner voice of a child incredibly well, while the world of the adults in the narrator's life is the focus of the story. It's a short, captivating read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
w0rmonastring's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Car accident
szeglin'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
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
yorozuya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Set in Colombia in the 1980s, this short novel focussed on a young girl, Claudia, and how she tries to make sense of her family's dynamics: The happy memories, their interactions with people in their small circle, the rifts and of course as the title indicates, the abysses. The central part of the abyss was brilliantly worked out, both in the literal and more metaphorical sense! I felt so bad for Claudia who has to deal with a mother who does not care enough and more serious issues as the novella continues. I got to read this work of fiction in Spanish, the original langaugesidekicksam'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