Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli

7 reviews

badmom's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Simply put - this is a deeply beautiful account of the vast range of emotional reactions to suicide, and the disparate forms love & support & grief might take. Our narrator is understandably distraught over her husband’s death; his mother’s response, extreme in its ugly vindictiveness, is also shown to be understandable, in a way. Everyone in Q’s orbit is shaken by his death but shows their sorrow in different ways, leaving his widow feeling even more unmoored as she tries (or doesn’t) to find a path forward. 
We are treated to the sweet and sometimes bittersweet history of this couple and with that we see the unfolding of characters that reveals layers of relationships. Nwabineli’s writing is subtly astute in the ways it shows growth in even the slightest of characters - she makes us notice everyone and compels us consider their stories within our own stories while allowing connections we might otherwise resist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Medical trauma, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Drug use, and Vomit

Minor: Gaslighting, Car accident, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

tlaynejones's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

The best book I’ve listened to this year. Warm, messy as hell, funny, so searingly sad, honest. This is a story about grief and love. I don’t know if I would have started it if I’d realised just how foundational grief is to the story, but I’m very glad I did. Nwabineli has written about a Nigerian British woman in her early 30s, who had, she thought, been happily married for the last 10years. But then she discovered her husband had died by suicide. The story takes place during the first months after this devastating event. I found the story to include enough balance to make the book compelling and enjoyable. Ugh enjoyable feels crass, considering the topic. I enjoyed getting to know Eve and her family, I found the process of grief, as it’s described in the book, challenged me and made me think, and I enjoyed discovering a new author to look out for. Obviously the grief and loss are a lot, and the specific mind fuck for loved ones coming to terms with a suicide is a lot. With that caution in mind, this is highly recommended.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Grief, Suicide, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Racism, and Vomit

mayrow26's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Death, Pregnancy, and Self harm

laurenkimoto's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Here are three things you should know about this book:

1. It will emotionally eviscerate you 
2. It is an absolutely beautiful and heart wrenching portrayal of grief 
3. The love of this family is endless 

And one thing you should know about me

1. I read this whole thing in less than a week 

bonus fact: No, I am not okay

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Medical content, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

katiejohns's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Racism, Mental illness, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

cassiebartelme's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This is a hard review to write just like it was a hard book to read. It’s not as simple as a “it was great!” 
This is a book about grief and all the messy complexities and layers of it. Sadness. Despair. Anger. Guilt.  This is an emotional book that won’t be for everyone but it is well written and powerful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Blood

Moderate: Alcohol and Racism

Minor: Classism

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.0

Deeply moving and terribly sad. This book displays the rawness of grief in a stunning and real way. The peeks into Nigerian culture were fascinating and gave the novel depth it wouldn’t otherwise have. The author brings truth and honesty to the characters brilliantly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Abortion, Death, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Toxic relationship, Classism, Abandonment, Mental illness, Suicide, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, and Medical content