Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

19 reviews

starlitpage's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.5

This is a powerful book about folklore and stories, about generational trauma, and about a house that doesn't stop running until it does. I didn't enjoy reading this book, but I'm glad I read it. I found the take on fear behind xenophobia particularly interesting. Would probably hold up well to rereads, but I don't intend to try.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use

Drug use = smoking cigarettes often, mention of other drugs in passing

tamara_joy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Self harm and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Alcohol

s_writes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism

Moderate: Child death, Death, Violence, and War

Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts

meshuganush's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

This book is a stunning masterpiece. I have so many words for it and yet they will not be enough. The writing is just astounding, the way the story is woven and the characters developed is just masterful. It is also one of the most uniquely and unapologetically Jewish books I have ever read. It doesn't stop to explain itself it just exists with Jewish customs, ideas and themes at the forefront. This was a stunning story that I will never forget and will sing it's praises to anyone who can't run away from me fast enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, and Murder

thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

If you'd told me a week before I read Thistlefoot that an Americana horror novel was going to be my new favorite book, I'd have thought you were out of your mind. But here we are, almost 450 pages later, and this book is all I've thought about since I first opened it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual content, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol

emfo5777's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Grief

samburkhouse's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Addiction, Stalking, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Fire/Fire injury

ebb_and_flow's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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: Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

A dark and and gripping retelling of the Baba Yaga tale, one that follows the results and causing of generational trauma but with silver lining of hope and determination.
This was such an incredible read, I was sucked in from the very first page, it has been a hot minute since I have had the pleasure to read such an amazing book. The writing, the prose, the seamless change in narrator from each character, and how the writing style subtly but effectively switches to reflect that was perfectly done. I surprised myself by how much I came to love and enjoy the perspective of Thistle the most, it was like little threads that began to weave together the mystery of the past.
You guys I almost forgot to mention but we get a truly sweet and delightful queer romance between Bellatine and a very lovely lady. This was such a welcome respite, a breath air of happiness in a darker overall story. I don't think I was truly prepared for how dark this story got, my only real complaint is that there were no content warnings.  (You guys it gets really dark a few times, especially when referencing pogroms and other events of that nature)
The concept of fear/bigotry being used to turn people into a weapon is always such an interesting trope that really makes me think about the book long after I finish reading it. I think this stems from the fact that this issue is so extremely prevalent in our culture and society today. There are so many people who have become so twisted and blinded by fear that they will attempt to justify their morally reprehensible actions as logical and sound. (And they believe that they are in fact, morally logical and sound)
Generational trauma is a relatively new concept to many people and the way it was shown in Thistlefoot was both beautifully and tragically depicted. Even if the mind forgets, or never knows, there is something in the body, in the dna, that effect's how a person will act and grow. "Generations pass, and suddenly, we forget. Our descendants are born yearning and they do not know why, for they have forgotten. Their hands are full of fire. Their legs are trembling to flee. The body remembers."

Bellatine and Isaac each represent different aspects of this trauma and how it has shaped their entire personalities. One, afraid to touch and grow to close to someone, and the other afraid to stop running. I didn't even realize until halfway through the book maybe that Isaac wasn't a complete asshat, and in fact was struggling just as Tiny was. 

 
If you are a fan of houses that are alive, a chameleon who can't stop running, and a girl with magic in her  hands then this is perfect for you. (Even if you aren't, you should read this anyway! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Sexual assault

podanotherjessi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts