Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Notice by Heather Lewis

4 reviews

samwall's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Rape

riomadre's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.5

I bought this book after hearing that it was "the most disturbing book ever" and yes, that is a very subjective thing, but damn - this book was so repetitive, slow, and bleak, I can't believe I made it through. It was grim and the mc was a very hopeless figure, but other than that, I found it drab, boring, and totally forgettable. It is out of print and super hard to find, but trust me - it's not worth the effort.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Trafficking, Violence, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Stalking, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

ludwinas's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence

specificwonderland's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Wow, what a journey. I was telling my partner about this book and his summary was, "So she was raped by every single person she came across?" 

I felt like the author needed a proofreader/editor, it almost came across as an ESL author, I'm not sure but some of the sentences almost felt like the words were in the wrong order. Maybe for the author it was an intended effect of the protagonist's drug use/dissociation. 

Overall, I enjoyed the intense atmospheric misery that this book created, I don't know what is up with me and my brain but something about these type of books is so satisfying. Maybe it's like the new Selena Gomez song where she talks about sharing her story because it might make someone feel less alone. Like the depths of my despair as a human have a context and there's people who make it through much harder things. I wish the author was still with us, I think I would have read more of her books. 

I think it's rooted in the feeling of being human, and feeling things deeply, and the power of a writer who is skilled to entirely immerse you in a world, a feeling, a mood, a life. This book was amazing, truly, at putting me into this atmosphere of numb yet unrelenting pain. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Rape, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Gore, Self harm, Police brutality, and Mental illness