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A review by rudera01
Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner
3.0
I feel torn on this book. I really like the premise and that the author is addressing multiple challenging subjects. I also appreciate the advocacy for seeking mental health through therapy!
I struggled with a few things.
1). For most of the book, I found the three friends who passed were hard to distinguish from each other. Aside from Blake being the funny one, they all bled together until Carver spent time with their families. Once that happened, however, I was really happy with the character descriptions but wish we got that introduced earlier on.
2). I was shocked how quickly the therapist recommended Zoloft - it was like the first five minutes into his session! Hardly any questions were asked or suggestions made for other solutions. I am not shaming taking medication in the slightest(I take anti anxiety myself and I certainly know how helpful and necessary it can be), but to me it seemed to push medication as the first and foremost answer. And then when he comes in the second or third time he immediately INCREASES his prescription when the panic attack came back again. He didn't recommend any sort of deep breathing or other exercise when Carver feels a panic attack coming on. Just take the pills, you'll be cool forever, bro. I didn't like the message that sent.
3). --and this is very minor compared to #2 -- the author has a habit of sending his characters into fits of hysterical laughter at the smallest of jokes. I gave it a pass when the Sauce Crew would break into giggles because I know how you can be with your friends and for no reason you are cry laughing at the dumbest stuff. But when he and Jasmyn are talking about nothing and one of them says a small thing and they are in tears laughing? This happened a lot. I don't know why it bothered me that much. I guess I don't think people are that uproariously hilarious?
I think it's an important message and warning about texting while driving, but I think it can be done better. Still, I finished it quickly and for the most part appreciated it. It dealt very well with describing grief and guilt in an authentic way.
I struggled with a few things.
1). For most of the book, I found the three friends who passed were hard to distinguish from each other. Aside from Blake being the funny one, they all bled together until Carver spent time with their families. Once that happened, however, I was really happy with the character descriptions but wish we got that introduced earlier on.
2). I was shocked how quickly the therapist recommended Zoloft - it was like the first five minutes into his session! Hardly any questions were asked or suggestions made for other solutions. I am not shaming taking medication in the slightest(I take anti anxiety myself and I certainly know how helpful and necessary it can be), but to me it seemed to push medication as the first and foremost answer. And then when he comes in the second or third time he immediately INCREASES his prescription when the panic attack came back again. He didn't recommend any sort of deep breathing or other exercise when Carver feels a panic attack coming on. Just take the pills, you'll be cool forever, bro. I didn't like the message that sent.
3). --and this is very minor compared to #2 -- the author has a habit of sending his characters into fits of hysterical laughter at the smallest of jokes. I gave it a pass when the Sauce Crew would break into giggles because I know how you can be with your friends and for no reason you are cry laughing at the dumbest stuff. But when he and Jasmyn are talking about nothing and one of them says a small thing and they are in tears laughing? This happened a lot. I don't know why it bothered me that much. I guess I don't think people are that uproariously hilarious?
I think it's an important message and warning about texting while driving, but I think it can be done better. Still, I finished it quickly and for the most part appreciated it. It dealt very well with describing grief and guilt in an authentic way.