Reviews

Pauvres Petits Chagrins by Paul Gagné, Miriam Toews, Lori Saint-Martin

teresaalice's review against another edition

4.0

I've read (and loved) all of Toews other books, and I was warned that this was a hard read but I forged ahead anyways. Well, they weren't wrong. If you want to read a book about suicide and how it touches everyone in the life of the person who is planning it, then this is the book for you.

hhwalker425's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

gen_denis's review against another edition

4.0

Sad story, beautifully told.

sagecannon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

nataalia_sanchez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

5.0

sposnick's review against another edition

3.0

Not bad, not great. Nothing so wrong with it overall, but I found it a bit meandering and depressing. But such is the subject matter, I suppose. Bummer, since I like Toews' writing style in general.

ovenbird_reads's review against another edition

I couldn't get through this book. it may have to do with prenatal exhaustion though rather than any fault with the book itself.

leo122's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.25

eliss's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

readrenard's review against another edition

3.0

oof, I have some problems with this book.
I enjoyed some moments, but others left me frustrated.

I was involuntarily hospitalized for depression/suicide in Canada and couldn’t help compare my experiences to the character's. Some of Elf’s treatment in the book felt realistic, but some of it did not. Perhaps it has to do with different provinces addressing mental health differently.

I'm not sure I was the audience for the book. It seems more targeted/centered around the depressed person's support system and how difficult it is to understand/accept/help from the outside.

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