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A review by spinesinaline
After Elias by Eddy Boudel Tan
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A devastating and thought-provoking book, I’m very glad I picked this one up.
It's as much a book about grief as it is about trauma and depression and complicated familial relationships and brotherly connections. CWs for plane crash, death, suicide attempt, sexual assault.
One of the notes I made as I was reading was how much I love the way that the authors makes us feel about these characters. Just as we think we’ve gotten to know them and their inner workings and motivations, Boudel Tan changes things up and adds one more little hint of a backstory or a previously misremembered memory that throws everything back into the air for the reader to puzzle through.
While the present story largely takes place in Mexico, there are many flashbacks to life in Vancouver and there are many local references for Vancouver readers to pick up on. Specific areas aren’t always mentioned but there’s enough description that local folks will be able to place these characters easily, and it brings another level of familiarity.
It's as much a book about grief as it is about trauma and depression and complicated familial relationships and brotherly connections. CWs for plane crash, death, suicide attempt, sexual assault.
One of the notes I made as I was reading was how much I love the way that the authors makes us feel about these characters. Just as we think we’ve gotten to know them and their inner workings and motivations, Boudel Tan changes things up and adds one more little hint of a backstory or a previously misremembered memory that throws everything back into the air for the reader to puzzle through.
While the present story largely takes place in Mexico, there are many flashbacks to life in Vancouver and there are many local references for Vancouver readers to pick up on. Specific areas aren’t always mentioned but there’s enough description that local folks will be able to place these characters easily, and it brings another level of familiarity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol