Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - In the Company of Men

Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

In the Company of Men by Véronique Tadjo

3 reviews

lady_bountiful's review

Go to review page

emotional informative sad fast-paced

3.5

Content Warnings

aimiller's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

This was a pretty beautifully written book, at least in translation; Tadjo manages to move from point of view to point of view in ways that explore the humanity or non-humanity of her narrators yet also feels cohesive and holistic in their tone. The chapter from the virus itself was I think the most powerful to me as we live through a pandemic and think about our relationship to viruses. Just a beautiful book with a lot to chew on.

Content Warnings

balladofreadingqueer's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was a short, slow paced book. Each chapter was narrated by a different character commenting on the Ebola pandemic. Narrators included a doctor, patients, mortician, baobab tree, bat, the Ebola virus itself even.

It attempts to show the vastness and severity of the impact of the pandemic but also highlighting the continuance of nature and that the virus is not inherently good or evil it just is.

Interesting to read amid another pandemic where we can’t touch each other or remain in close contact, the global impact of the virus and a similar longevity of the pandemic to Ebola.

Nevertheless, I did not really enjoy this book. It was slow and difficult to get into. The chapters felt disjointed and unconnected; providing only snippets of stories.

Content Warnings

More...