Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Toda a Gente Nesta Sala um Dia Há de Morrer

I wanted so much to love this book. It started out telling a story I could really get behind and was hoping it would follow a similar tone as Sayaka Muratas's Life Ceremony or Earthlings and then saw the lighthearted but dark feeling in the first few pages and really hoped it would lean a bit more towards Backman's Anxious People. I was disappointed on all accounts. There was never a more meaningful discussion of the characters issues in a literary way, nothing but an illustration of what a panic attack (for some) may feel like (sort of) with a heavy dose of self sabotage and the need for suspending my disbelief.

I actually feel the writer completely failed to capture how real anxieties are felt and expressed while also missing a chance to tell a great story by focusing so much the church setting and a obvious "murder" plot twist. Furthermore, the way the book implies that the MC getting on antidepressants was a cause for her anxious breakdown was offensive and is dangerous.

I did find the broken chapter structure near the end a wonderful and unique way to disorient the reader.

Content Warnings

infairveronaa's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad fast-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

Pretty gutted for a good amount of this book. But also laughed wholeheartedly and giggled often. Gilda resonated with me in a way that made me feel like I needed to make some changes in my own life. Her thought processes were nihilistic but at the same time reasonable and funny but always with that hint of dark. And then you feel how good of a person she is and how big her heart is and it's the most heartwarming story ever.

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rahulricky's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-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

4.5

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hanhantap's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

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ailin2's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad 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

4.75

I devoured this book. It was so easy to read, and you get such a great idea about the main characters flaws and what's going on inside her head. I liked the almost vignette style and the flash backs within them had a flow that worked for me (but I could see why it might not work for everyone).

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