Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

A Biblioteca da Meia-Noite by Matt Haig

1361 reviews

cam_reads22's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

chelle22's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

abiidayyx's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

emilyacv's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-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

3.0

Id heard some polarizing things about this one… and I think my thoughts are just… meh. I found the concept interesting, if a little gimicky at times. The tone comes off preachy at times, and about halfway through it gets repetitive to the point that the overall message (which I think is very sweet & hopeful!) dulls out. I think I was just expecting more - I was hoping it would stick with me, make me think… but I got to the end and I was just like k. Love a little existentialism, as a treat, but it’s not one I’m going to re-read. Also, the “rules” for the past lives irritated me -

how come her body can remember how to swim/play an instrument/be in a certain shape depending on the life she is in, but it can’t remember how to be confident when giving a speech, use the polar bear protection equipment on the glacier etc??? And I just kind of got annoyed with her never knowing what was going on ever, although we kind of get an answer to that in the second last life when she slowly starts to fit in more and remember things as she ‘commits’ to the life. But the exposition got old fast.

if the concept intrigues you, I think it’s worth checking out (though see the content warnings) but don’t expect it to change your life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Self harm, and Death of parent

eabness's review against another edition

fast-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

2.0

This book MIGHT prove insightful to a middle-schooler who has never been to therapy. 
A cliche, heavy-handed metaphor on nearly every page, Haig attempts - desperately and ineffectively - to be as edgy and thought provoking as the philosophers he name drops in almost every chapter. Throughout this wholly predictable narrative, we learn nothing profound from the "trials" of our self-pitying "protagonist," and are left craving even a single reflection on the value of life or the mystery of death that we haven't heard a million times before. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

elsreads's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad 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

such a wonderful book that’s really helped me reflect on my own life too and see the beauty in sadness and the power in living <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

fluffy1st's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Self harm, Vomit, and Car accident

khayes2's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

I really enjoyed this! It kept me on my toes and was only cliché for a moment 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

dkgreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.5

This is one of those books that leaves you staring at the wall for untold minutes after you’ve finished it, trying to work through the emotions it’s left in its wake. So many thoughts. So many feels. Definitely recommend.

“If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail. Aim to be you. Aim to look and act and think like you. Aim to be the truest version of you. Embrace that you-ness. Endorse it. Love it. Work hard at it. And don’t give a second thought when people mock it or ridicule it. Most gossip is envy in disguise. Keep your head down. Keep your stamina. Keep swimming . . .”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

j_cabral's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent