Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

589 reviews

slowburnsrus's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

When I started this book I was bored by the clunky and self indulgent writing, and annoyed by the peak White Feminism critique of trauma and cultural appropriation that was far less thoughtful and nuanced than the Barbie movie. 

The root of my dissatisfaction is that reading about a character playing a game is like reading about a character working out…fun when you do it yourself, excruciating when we read the minutiae of another’s experience.

The strongest part of this book is its work with grief, and the metaphors around gaming in relation to grief and loss. That grabbed me in the second half and kept me reading.

But the writing feel excessively overwrought with not enough payoff in either plot or observations on the human condition to make me enjoy reading it. 

I cannot express how much I came to loathe many of the characters, particular Dov, the sexual harasser and groomer who (spoiler) gets a fucking redemption arc at the end of the book.

I was surprised that there were fewer attributions than I would expected in the authors note as I recognized many of the book’s references, and Sadie in particular was prone to insightful wanderings that so had definitely read before.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use and Abortion

rzh's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Vomit and Pregnancy

Minor: Abortion

lo_the_wren's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

4.0

This was one that I couldn’t put down. At once ordinary, beautiful, and devastating. The author did such a good job following characters through time and unfolding the simple and universal theme of wanting to be loved. Unfortunately despite the excellent writing I didn’t find the characters likable. Maybe that is the point? I still wanted to follow their story…but was left a bit disappointed. Still four stars for fantastic writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

emmasiporatyler's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book truly had it all. It was so beautifully written - I was amazed by Zevin’s ability to make me absolutely transfixed by a topic I normally don’t care much about (video games). At times I wanted to speed through to see how things ended, but I’m glad I took my time with it (though it wasn’t exactly intentional). Digesting the story over a longer period of time made all the references and call backs throughout so much more meaningful and heart wrenching. I was so enveloped in these characters stories, and cared deeply for all of them - I didn’t know who I related to more! There were a couple chapters that felt like really strong tone shifts and a bit awkward at first but in retrospect, I think they were by design and, in the end, it worked for me. The way Zevin weaves together such a layered and detailed story of love, friendship, and fame is remarkable and extremely moving. This will probably end up my being my top read of 2024. I don’t normally reread books but I already want to read this one again! I could gush about it for a long time but I’ll stop there :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual content, and Vomit

elisacarlene's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

rebeccaquinton's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Cultural appropriation

rynaissanceenby's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It feels like a modern story that deals with so many cultural issues in such good and enlightening ways. It reads like a John Green novel for an older audience. Even when I wanted to scream at the characters to "Just talk to each other!" they were still endearing, and I was enraptured by the story. I read this book in basically a single sitting, it that's any indication of how much I liked it. I will forgive it it's slightly inaccurate depictions of MIT on account of being a book I would be happy to reread. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, and Car accident

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Antisemitism, and Abortion

carlytenille's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5

This was such a unique book. I loved the way the story was told not only through multiple POVs but also through video games. As the characters grew up and adapted, so did the storytelling.

Sam/Mazer is such an intriguing character who you can’t quite wrap your head around. He has been invisible his whole life and isn’t quite sure how to love and be loved. His character grows quite a bit but still has his flaws to the very end.

All in all, this was a delight to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Abortion, and Pregnancy

chloel29's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail