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A review by jenny_librarian
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
This was one hell of a triggering roller coaster.
I usually love everything Alice Oseman does, with the exception of Solitaire. When I started Radio Silence, the writing style made me worry it would be the same thing with this one. But I pushed through, and while I like the themes, it ended up being a lot more triggering than I could’ve imagined.
The whole thing about going to university or not isn’t relevant to me anymore, as I already have a master’s degree. Had this book already been out when I was applying at college, it would probably have hit very close to home (having been pushed into college by a mom who never finished high school and wanted me to have better opportunities in life). The conversation about whether or not you should go to university was well done, and Oseman included examples of people from all backgrounds and with different goals (Daniel, Raine, Aled, Frances). Had it only been that, the book would of course have been a little more boring, but not nearly as triggering.
What got to me, though, was the depiction of depression as viewed from a third party. It got to the point that I was wondering if a certain character would commit suicide every time I finished a chapter. And the abuse didn’t help. It was incredibly hard to read. Maybe it would have been easier when I was a teen with a more naive view on life but as an adult reading the scenes of parental abuse (there are two pretty horrific ones) sent me into a meltdown.
The subject of this book is important and well done. It was just really hard for me to read some of it.
I usually love everything Alice Oseman does, with the exception of Solitaire. When I started Radio Silence, the writing style made me worry it would be the same thing with this one. But I pushed through, and while I like the themes, it ended up being a lot more triggering than I could’ve imagined.
The whole thing about going to university or not isn’t relevant to me anymore, as I already have a master’s degree. Had this book already been out when I was applying at college, it would probably have hit very close to home (having been pushed into college by a mom who never finished high school and wanted me to have better opportunities in life). The conversation about whether or not you should go to university was well done, and Oseman included examples of people from all backgrounds and with different goals (Daniel, Raine, Aled, Frances). Had it only been that, the book would of course have been a little more boring, but not nearly as triggering.
What got to me, though, was the depiction of depression as viewed from a third party. It got to the point that I was wondering if a certain character would commit suicide every time I finished a chapter. And the abuse didn’t help. It was incredibly hard to read. Maybe it would have been easier when I was a teen with a more naive view on life but as an adult reading the scenes of parental abuse (there are two pretty horrific ones) sent me into a meltdown.
The subject of this book is important and well done. It was just really hard for me to read some of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Child abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death