Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

7 reviews

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-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

3.75

A perfect example of the miscommunication trope that follows Rosie and Will from teenagers to middle age.

The story explores growing up, loss, grief, navigating relationships, making a life for yourself and the people you need around you to achieve that. The piano scene is heartbreaking in the best possible way.

It’s often compared to Normal People, and because the main trope is the same it’s clear why, but I found the main characters in Normal People more relatable. But even so, if you enjoyed Normal People you will enjoy this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Mental illness, Self harm, and Medical content

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Drug use and Vomit

geoalice23's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

my love for the writing style grew at the same rate my hate for the plot did 

tw: trauma bond 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

stellahadz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I can't help but feel a bit conflicted about this book. The story follows basically the same formula as books like Normal People, One Day, and Where Rainbows End -- bad boy meets studious girl, they fall for each other but can't admit it, and they weave in and out of each other's lives through the years. It's a formula that works, but I personally have a bit of a love-hate relationship with it, and Talking at Night is no exception. The characters in these stories are almost always traumatized in some way, and the point seems to be that their love for each other "fixes" them, but a lot of the time that love can manifest in toxic ways: poor communication, pain caused to other unsuspecting partners, and unhealthy expectations. Part of the reason I liked the character of Jen in Talking at Night is that she kind of pokes holes in that dynamic - she tells Will that he's not really in love with Rosie, but rather the idea of her that he's built up in his head. Of course, in Will's case, it's not entirely true, but I liked that the "slow burn soulmate"-type trope got called into question.

Overall, the book is a little slow to start, but I was glad I continued reading. The prose was beautiful, the characters were well fleshed-out, and their family dynamics were compelling, especially Will's relationship with his grandmother. The dialogue, as well as the characters' thoughts and emotions, felt realistic. However, some parts of the book verged on a little overdramatic, and it seemed like the author was trying to stuff as much tragedy and drama as possible into the story to advance the plot. For Will's and Rosie's sakes, I wish the book had focused more on how they worked towards healing individually and then grew together, as opposed to relying on their love for each other to magically fix everything, but that probably wouldn't sell as many copies! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

chris_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

bella_cavicchi'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This has my name written all over it, Daverley's stunning, understated writing the clear highlight. It feels particularly resonant when questions of what one (I) wants to do in life, à la Mary Oliver, weigh heavily.

Recommend, and with pleasure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Minor: Pregnancy

brittonmc1221's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, and Medical content