Reviews tagging 'Death'

Animal Life: the dazzling, funny and beguiling novel about an Icelandic midwife working over Christmas, perfect for fans of Miriam Toews and Tove Jansson by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

6 reviews

sophoclea's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

“The world is still black

I wake up on the shortest day of the year into the longest night of time. 

It will be a long time before the light dissolves the night in the world takes on a form. I listen out for sounds in the house and I think I hear movement in the loft. I get up and pull the curtains back. A soft gray haze hovers over the graveyard. An airplane emerges from a cloud and vanishes into another. The day never really manages to break through.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Death

carlaonion's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Minor: Child death and Death

eire2011's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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? No

5.0

This was such an interesting book and I found myself drawn in from the beginning. It was enjoyable to read about Domhildur's life, how she came to be a midwife, her life living in Iceland and how her Great Aunt was also a midwife and a huge influence on Domhildur's decision in also becoming a midwife.

Looking forward to reading more by this author and would love for there to hopefully be a sequel to this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

odyssia's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Themes of light, birth and death are found throughout the book. There isn't much of a plot, it's mostly memories of the protagonist's grandaunt, who was a slightly eccentric philosopher/conservationist intermingled with snippets of the present (approaching Christmas). Skilful writing with slightly intriguing philosophical nuggets. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

fortheloveofhaggis's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Medical content, and Pregnancy

gillian_aftanas's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death, Death, and Infertility