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

Not the most uplifting book but I did find it fascinating and a bit profound. I loved the dry humor and being able to see Gilda's thought process and, while depressing, the very unique way she views the world. I'm filled with a sad sort of empathy for Gilda and the way anxiety impacts her, but I'm also left stunned at the heartbreaking beauty that shines through Emily Austin's prose.

For example, there's one instance in the novel where Gilda recounts how through the difficulty she faces to feel happy, the only recent time she can remember being so is when she watched a movie with her girlfriend. She then proceeds to contemplate the role Catholicism plays in peoples lives, and theorizes that it's a solution to existential dread, how it's comforting to imagine we have loved ones waiting for us afterwards, that there is someone in this life who watches over us and loves us, and that perhaps it gives our lives meaning. But as someone who's queer, "it's ironic that a belief system theoretically created to help me feel safe and meaningful takes away one of the few things that makes me feel like my life is worth living at all."

Another instance occurs on Gilda's 28th birthday where she ruminates just how long she's existed: in days, in months, in the years of other parts of this planetary system. "I read once that women are born with all the eggs that they will ever produce in their life. That means the egg that formed me is as old as my mother. From that perspective, part of me is fifty-one."

Gilda is so introspective, in ways that I am not, and despite being left with this tender sadness, I appreciate that I now have this to reflect on.

Content Warnings

vagrantheather's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book made me question whether I actually have anxiety. I mean I do, and some of what our MC went through was relatable, but man oh man some of it was so far beyond me. Gilda makes a million horrible, misguided choices. Then never even tries to explain herself. I both get it and don't; my personal experience with anxiety has me over explaining constantly and anxious how others perceive me (which does not help me be more clear, at all). I know everyone's journey is different, I just didn't super heavily vibe with this portrayal the way I did with, say, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

The only characters I really liked were Eleanor and Jeff.

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dannythestreet's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad

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

4.0

Probably one of the most relatable books I've read
(maybe don't read it if you're feeling particularly anxious or depressed)

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laran_s's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

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torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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whiteflowerose's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

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rieviolet's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

The book started off really strong but, as I went on reading, it lost me a bit. Maybe it's because we are firmly into the main character's headspace and I felt like it became a bit repetitive. Also, the final section

with the police investigation and Gilda's questioning and brief detention

felt to me a bit over-the-top, it went on and on and then was solved in the blink of an eye. The ending itself wasn't so bad

I admit that I teared up a bit when Gilda's left those voicemail messages

but it was still quite abrupt and an awful lot was left unaddressed.

I appreciated the hard-hitting representation of mental illness, just make sure to check the content warnings and look after your own mental well-being.
I also quite liked the humour and, as a raised-Catholic-turned-atheist, I cackled many times whenever Gilda pondered over bizarre Catholic rituals.

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ienbdri's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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