Reviews tagging 'Child death'

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

17 reviews

katrinarose's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

For such a short book it sure packs a punch. I loved the ending and the grim reality that we see of Neville’s life. Despite the monotony of most of his days, this book flew by for me. And even now after seeing hundreds of versions of a vampire and/or pandemic story, I still find this one original and compelling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Body horror, and Medical content

Moderate: Child death and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content

singalana's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes

3.0

Elokuvaversiosta poiketen tässä post apokalyptisessä novellissa zombien sijasta temmeltävätkin vampyyrit. Robert Neville on maailman viimeinen ihminen - kaikki muut ovat jo ajat sitten muuttuneet vertaimeviksi hirviöiksi. Päivisin Neville etsii ja tappaa vampyyrejä, täydentää varastojaan ja vahvistaa puolustuksiaan. Öisin häntä piinaavat ulkona odottelevat vampyyrit. 

Robert Neville kipuilee yksinäisyytensä kanssa, juo liikaa ja vihansa vimmassa käyttäytyy aggressiivisesti. Ymmärrettävästi hän ei juuri nyt ole ihan parhaimmillaan. Kirjan alussa hänen suurin ongelmansa tuntuu olevan seksin puute, mikä nykylukijalla saattaa nostattaa hieman kulmakarvoja. Tätä lukuunottamatta kirja on kestänyt suhteellisen hyvin aikaa. 

Lopussa kirjassa on hyvin toteutettu kohtaus, jossa Neville todistaa verivihollisensa kohtaloa. Loppuratkaisu onnistuu ehkä hieman yllättävälläkin tavalla kääntämään kirjan asetelmaa. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal death, Addiction, and Violence

Minor: Violence, Sexism, Rape, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content

mconroy9137's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Alcoholism, Violence, Misogyny, Alcohol, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Grief, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Body horror, and Kidnapping

Minor: Vomit, Child death, and Medical content

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Medical content, Child death, Cursing, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

corpseparty's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, Gore, and Blood

Minor: Rape

werewolvesnotswearwolves's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Violence

stormwise's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was an interesting one to read in a COVID-19 world! This was my second read of this novel, the last time being over 10 years ago, and it definitely hit different in 2021 👀

I am Legend takes place entirely in the mind of its main character, Robert Neville. Well, no, it mostly takes place in a North American town that has been overwhelmed by the living dead. But the story is entirely from Robert's perspective as he grapples with his situation.

I adored the writing in this book - everything Matheson portrays feels so vivid. The monotony of Robert's survival routine, his tension and anticipation each evening as the sun sets, the frustration and grief he experiences...it all felt very real.

The true antagonist of this story, in my opinion, is Robert's own mind. Trapped in his house, trapped in his own head, his struggle to remain human drives him to inhumanity and is ultimately his downfall as he is unable to adapt to the new world.

I enjoyed the science sections - they were quite digestible compared to, say, Solaris which I found quite stodgy when I read it last year! Robert Neville himself isn't particularly likeable - his numerous comments on women made me squirm - but I don't think you're supposed to like him, really. Overall I really like this book - I'd describe it as a psychological horror that turns the vampire narrative on its head.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide

Moderate: Death, Animal death, and Blood

Minor: Misogyny, Child death, Medical content, Gun violence, and Grief