Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

Vindens skugga by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

3 reviews

roseblossom999's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Abandonment

booknerdwithlipstick's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Incest, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Vomit, Dementia, and Alcohol

Minor: Forced institutionalization

cryptogay's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective 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

4.0

Despite myself, I love this book. It is very much a book by Zafón, and has all of the flaws and difficulties of his writing, which I could certainly list for you in warning. 
The themes are very similar to that of Marina, and in many ways this feels like a retelling of that same story. A deep, ghostly, otherworldly mystery is the centerpiece, a young man who falls in love easily dedicates himself to trying to unravel it. The women are pale, beautiful, and largely absent. A kindly and broken hearted father figure is present, but rarely spoken to. It all takes place in an older, more secretive, more ruinous version of Barcelona. The protagonist is reflecting on and writing down the experiences of his youth many years later. It becomes somewhat easy to predict aspects of the mystery, if you've read Zafón before. 
But, his writing is a pleasure to read, his skill in crafting suspense and mystery keeps you reading, and much of the horror is genuinely chilling. The story is intricately crafted, but somehow seems to have sprung up naturally. The humanity of other people is a strong focus. Its an interesting book, and one I cannot help but feel an affection towards. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy

Moderate: Miscarriage, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism