Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

16 reviews

introverted_reads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Grief, Cursing, Death, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Suicide, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

satuhurme's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death of parent, and Classism

josbooknook's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

Everything is going to be all right. Or, if not, everything is going to be, so let’s not worry. (325)

This book came at such a good time for me. Not only is it fun, adventurous, and entertaining, but it is also incredibly inspirational and comforted me right now in a time of uncertainty. 
Adventure takes places over centuries, and we get to follow our protagonist who goes by many names through time and history itself. Needless to say, his many centuries alive have taught him some much needed wisdom. 

This book felt like a warm hug to me. It told me that it is okay to not know the future, and that only anticipating the future your whole life is not really living. I think I needed to hear that message now more than ever. Thank you for your beautiful words of wisdom, Matt Haig. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Colonisation and Fire/Fire injury

mj0's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

I love Matt Haig. I loved the Midnight Library. Which meant that when I was gifted How To Stop Time, I was eccentric. It seemed like an interesting concept, but I didn't pick it up at the time because, well, i was afraid. After The Midnight Library, I was shook. Haig compiled a beautiful story about mental health, and made me think. Like, truly made me think. Haig is a philosopher, but it is so rare that someone can so artfully put the truths of life into words. How To Stop Time was similar but contemplated a different idea. Loneliness. Sadness. Depression. Manipulation. Vulnerability. And fear. A fear of loving and being loved. But also a fear of being without purpose and fulfilment. This book was a reminder for taking life as it goes. Not being careless, of course, but not getting so caught up about the past or the future for you to forget about the present. To stop you taking a leap of faith. To stop holding your breath. To love freely and entirely.
I can't wait for this brilliant novel to be turned into a movie (apparently starring Benedict Cumberbatch), though unfortunately, it's 2022 and it was first pitched to be a movie in 2017. So will we get a movie adaptation? I don't know. But I really, really hope so. 
Though I don't think you can ever express this kind of novel in a movie in a way it does it justice.
I highly recommend, to all types of readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Addiction, Acephobia/Arophobia, Drug use, Cursing, Colonisation, and Alcohol

satsukiq's review

funny hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Violence, and War

bash5617's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders