Reviews tagging 'Death'

This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz

5 reviews

inirac's review

emotional lighthearted reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

ashleycmms's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad fast-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage

1.5 This book is riddled with every slur you can think of for every community. Filled with misogyny. Everyone is either selfish or suffering. He really wrote every single stereotype of negative Dominican culture absolute fact and as if the only option. Like G*d the book was so over the top I have to actually say not all men are like this???? Idk, maybe the author is sucio como el solo, y si es asi... vete pal infierno maldito :) Last two chunks of the book actually show Yunior suffering for his own actions and seeing that those around him are living more fulfilling lives, including the type of life he wishes he had.

lyshbish's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

This was fast read, which I appreciated! I thought it had sweet moments, and I liked it overall, but it didn't leave a profound impact on me. I found the random perspective shift in the middle a little jarring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Deportation

starrysteph's review against another edition

funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

This is a collection of short stories - but all linked to and interwoven with the life of one specific character, Yunior.

It's difficult to love Yunior; he doesn't seem to evolve much and treats those in his life (especially the rotation of women throughout the collection) quite poorly. But he has this sense of cheeky optimism that is endearing - and this shines through in the more haunting portraits of Yunior and his brother and parents.

I'm not sure if I would call these "love" stories. There are no happy endings here, and each story heavily features infidelity and machismo and the general mistreatment of women.

The language was both raw and effective. Yunior's got an incredibly well-defined voice. And the last short story, The Cheater's Guide To Love, where he finally owns his mistakes and accepts some responsibility for his challenging relationships, is by far my favorite.

CW: infidelity, cancer, adult/minor relationship, alcoholism, cursing, drug use, misogyny, chronic illness, fatphobia, racism, classism, grief, suicidal thoughts, sexual content

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism

chillstock's review against another edition

challenging sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

It turns out to be what you expect. When you read a myopic book about a man’s flaws, they seem to feel pointing out that they have flaws is as good as saying something about them.

That being said, the reader will walk away with a number of themes explored, including intergenerational trauma and how that shit can make you an asshole. There is a LOT of toxic masculinity, slut shaming, misogyny, and racism in this book. A LOT. Again, that’s the point, but would that the dude has something insightful to share about how he becomes less of a shit instead of just saying he is a shit and that it’s meaningful to put together a book about all the women he’s hurt where the implication is that none of it is his fault cause he’s had a tough life.

Well written. Just… so much toxic masculinity, and while that was the point, it seems the author wasn’t aware of how much additional toxic masculinity and misogyny he still has even in his “I learned my lesson” voice.

Anyways, I hate reading books about men who suck, and how they just kind of suck, but like, in a profound way, you know maaaaaan?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Classism