Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

16 reviews

thehollyking's review against another edition

reflective slow-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? It's complicated

1.75

This book was much like Tom Hazard's life, longer than it should've been. It felt very context heavy, I would say the actual plot only spanned about 1/3 of the book. It could've been so much more condensed and said exactly the same thing. Most of the chapters were just fluff. The actual plot was ok. 
I've never been a fan of stories that tell you in a sentence at the end the thought or moral you're meant to be taking away from the book, and this does just that. It kind of felt like the moral came first and the plot came second.
It wasn't a bad book. It was just fine. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Colonisation, Suicide, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Racism, Bullying, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, and War

vicixyz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Minor: Self harm, Alcohol, Colonisation, Death, and Gun violence

waytoomanybooks's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

3.0

This is such a clever twist in the time travel genre, but the title is totally inaccurate. The main character never once attempts to figure out how his aging has been stopped, nor do any of the other character. His only focus is in finding others who have his anti-aging condition.

However, I enjoyed the reflective wisdom of the main character and the history we get to experience along with him. It was fun to see notable historical figures pop into and out of his life, but I especially liked that the people who had the biggest impact on him were just regular people: his family, his friends, his coworkers, etc. The main thread that binds together, all the many arcs of Tom's story is love, and it was lovely to see him come to that conclusion.

My other quibble with the novel is that the story kind of just ends, and the miniature epilogue was a bit too cheesy/cliché for my taste.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Outing

mpbookreviews's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Murder, Sexism, Colonisation, War, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Violence

kay_w's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Colonisation, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse

Minor: War and Panic attacks/disorders

chellemerrill's review

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Death of parent, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Colonisation, and Suicidal thoughts

sarahrose14's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Murder

Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and War

leonormsousa's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation, Death, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Hate crime, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and War

sevensableyes's review against another edition

reflective 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

3.5

This book was nicely written, and very easy to read (finished in 2 days). I didn't feel bored, but I also didn't really feel for the characters. I didn't feel like there were any stakes, and the ending seemed to come out of no where. The ending was also a little too neat for my tastes. It felt kind of preachy too; the sudden switch to hopefulness and 'living in the moment'.

I did like the timeline, and the look into Tom's past and adventures.

I was a bit disappointed in Marion's reveal, and how little importance she seemed ot have at the end. Like Tom's purpose for four hundred years was finding her... and then she leaves? And he starts another family? I thought that was strange. I would have much preferred if Tom said his goodbye's to Camille and reconnected with albas to build a real community with people who are going to live forever.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicide attempt

achay91's review

emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Chronic illness, Cursing, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Colonisation