Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The Outsider by Stephen King

36 reviews

natmorrall's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

pretty boring and slow to start with and then goes in a super weird direction but it's stephen king so like kinda expected 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Blood, Pedophilia, Rape, Murder, and Body horror

Moderate: Gore and Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal death

chadconnecticut's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was my first sampling of King’s later work, and while I didn’t hate it, I miss the fervor of his earlier years. 

Despite the harrowing nature of the crimes depicted in the book, it’s hard to root for a cast of characters who are all different flavors of middle-aged white cop (plus a Mexican character who does make me doubt King’s ability to write diversely). Holly Gibney, clearly a favorite of King’s, was charming, and I can see why he and readers both attached to her. 

Overall, there were moments of tension, but the mystery lacked the tautness I’ve seen demonstrated in King’s other work. More than that, I didn’t feel the same loving attention paid at the sentence level, which made it easier to look past some oversimplified characterization on King’s part in the past. But the moments I loved, I really loved. Lovie Bolton will go down as an example of King’s ability to craft a memorable character when he truly tries. I just wish I could say the same for Ralph Anderson and the rest of the protagonists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, and Suicide attempt

This is a book whose plot hinges on the graphic, sexually sadistic murder of a child.

devynkeith's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Rape, Murder, Cancer, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

hilary_v's review against another edition

dark

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Cannibalism, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Torture

bittie_bee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Grief, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death and Vomit

stardustvein's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Grief, Cannibalism, Death, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Blood, Gore, Sexual violence, Cursing, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Animal death

jossywright's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Takes an unusual turn which you will either love or hate 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Suicide, Terminal illness, Cancer, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Addiction, Gore, Blood, Grief, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

theimposter's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Torture, Cancer, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Police brutality

alylentz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this! I do think it was too long and lost momentum at the end (it also just became more action-y that I necessarily wanted), but the first third especially was just ENTHRALLING and I could not put it down. For sure interested to read something centered around Holly as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, and Gore

racheltrow_'s review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Murder, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Violence, and Suicide attempt