Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Real Life by Brandon Taylor

44 reviews

macca23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

5.0

need to reread with a pen in hand because the way Brandon Taylor constructs his prose is masterful

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Racism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Violence, and Physical abuse

suncreems's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, and Child abuse

Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Eating disorder

Minor: Violence, Fatphobia, Vomit, Grief, Racial slurs, and Body shaming

raoulalexander's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Violence, and Physical abuse

Minor: Vomit, Drug abuse, and Infidelity

yavin_iv's review

reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, and Vomit

Minor: Violence

pkc's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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? N/A

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, and Vomit

lilyyparker's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, and Physical abuse

voidboi's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

What can I even say about this book? I ached as I read, submerged in gorgeous and brutal writing, feeling both deep connection and intense alienation as I was let into Wallace's head/body. 

In Real Life, the complexities of grief, memory, identity, and relationships converge over a weekend of experimental setbacks, socializing with friends, walks through a midwestern city, and a burgeoning sexual and toxic connection. The story is grounded in Wallace's internal experience, playing with the stark border between the self and others, as the othered. I was especially impressed by the way Taylor masterfully evokes the existential crisis that is academia, different from my experience in humanities and social sciences, but still painfully familiar with far-reaching impacts. Throughout this book, the world is honestly rendered in both condemnation and empathy. It hurts. I'll carry this one with me for a long time. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Vomit

nenesuxz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? No

4.5

So so deeply sad, I loved the emotions, I was obsessed with the writing, but I feel as if the plot was a little lost… 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide

Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Gaslighting

renjamin's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Grief, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal death

cybersylk's review

dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Some of the most beautiful prose I’ve read in a while. This book left me absolutely breathless at moments. The constant analysis of cruelty and connection was by far some of the most poignant exploration of self I’ve ever encountered.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Eating disorder, Alcohol, and Animal death