Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Igelkottens elegans

Reading this book, as someone who has both personally experienced and works daily with a population that experiences extreme suicidal ideation, felt like reassurance. Barbery has a beautiful way of being able to describe how life is made up of the most beautiful small moments that make all the rest of them worth living through. The beauty of camellias, the warmth of connection with others, the joy from the enrichment of books and language and culture - all of these are feelings to chase, and reasons to choose to live. These little moments are "an always within never," and the people in our lives who show us this, and who move gracefully through this life, are as refined and elegant as the hedgehog!
It really is a beautiful and enjoyable story that genuinely reminded me why I choose to keep living every day. Some of the language is very complex, but it is written in a way where I was able to skim some paragraphs at times and still glean the deeper meaning without over-analyzing every single word. Very excited to re-read this and have the words be more familiar and to absorb even more of the story. I had mixed feelings about the ending for the main character, but overall the characters are lovable and the story is valuable.

Content Warnings

internationalreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

I’m so mad

Content Warnings

aktunmore's review against another edition

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challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

nerdpastornate's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny inspiring reflective 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

As an introvert, this book makes me feel a lot of things.

Content Warnings

thepetris's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

kiramke's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

3.0

Complex feelings. I enjoyed some elements but was put off by the language about other people. I think maybe I like the book I imagined before reading it.

Content Warnings

revengesrose's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? No

4.0

Content Warnings

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