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textpublishing's review against another edition
‘An absolutely riveting read, and I take my hat off to Vann for not just imagining his father’s very troubled mind, but for writing such an arresting and beautifully melancholic testament to him…[T]he best thing that I have read so far this year.’
Readings Monthly
Readings Monthly
cynthiak's review against another edition
2.0
Je n'ai éprouvé aucune sympathie pour le personnage de Jim Vann, plutôt un perpétuel agacement. Le livre aurait mérité d'être plus court et l'écriture plus intimiste, néanmoins le texte décrit bien le désarroi profond dans lequel se trouvent les personnes souffrant de troubles bipolaires.
bettyvd's review against another edition
4.0
4 ster. Ok, er was de plot (haalt hij de trekker over en hoeveel keer?). Er was de innerlijke monoloog, hopeloosheid en gevangenschap. Allemaal erg empathisch beschreven en dus bij momenten een stomp in je maag. Maar vooral: wat is de zin van het leven? En als je de zin niet vindt, ook als je niet uitgeput en depressief bent, welke opties heb je dan? Stof tot nadenken.
annabarbarabittner's review against another edition
4.0
Jeśli się przeczytało Legendę o samobójstwie, warto sięgnąć po tę książkę. Dopełnia ona tamtą, dopowiada, ukazuje inną perspektywę. Tutaj głównym i jednym bohaterem jest Jim, który przylatuje do Kalifornii z Alaski, by podjąć ostatnią próbę pokonania depresji. Podejmuje ją jednak głównie na prośbę rodziny, bo nie widać w nim woli walki i chęci życia. Jego depresja jest tak głęboka, że nie sposób z nią już walczyć.
Nie chcę tu pisać o depresji, bo zapewne każda chora osoba przeżywa ją inaczej, zachowuje się inaczej i ma inne sposoby na przetrwanie. Vann przedstawia tutaj dogłębny obraz depresji Jima, wchodzi w jego głowę, jego myśli, obdziera je z pozłotki i pokazuje z wielką szczerością. Przemyślenia i wypowiedzi Jima mogą być szokujące, niekonsekwentne, obraźliwe, nie ma przecież już nic do stracenia, jest u końca równi pochyłej. Vann świetnie opisuje jego naprzemienne napady manii i głebokiej depresji oraz rozmowy z rodziną. Brat, rodzice, byłe żony, dzieci, przyjaciel - mniej lub bardziej umiejętnie z nim rozmawiają. Niektórzy nie potrafią zrozumieć depresji, niektórzy próbują pomóc, niektórzy po prostu są.
Ciąg dalszy: https://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot.com/2021/05/halibut-na-ksiezycu-david-vann.html
Nie chcę tu pisać o depresji, bo zapewne każda chora osoba przeżywa ją inaczej, zachowuje się inaczej i ma inne sposoby na przetrwanie. Vann przedstawia tutaj dogłębny obraz depresji Jima, wchodzi w jego głowę, jego myśli, obdziera je z pozłotki i pokazuje z wielką szczerością. Przemyślenia i wypowiedzi Jima mogą być szokujące, niekonsekwentne, obraźliwe, nie ma przecież już nic do stracenia, jest u końca równi pochyłej. Vann świetnie opisuje jego naprzemienne napady manii i głebokiej depresji oraz rozmowy z rodziną. Brat, rodzice, byłe żony, dzieci, przyjaciel - mniej lub bardziej umiejętnie z nim rozmawiają. Niektórzy nie potrafią zrozumieć depresji, niektórzy próbują pomóc, niektórzy po prostu są.
Ciąg dalszy: https://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot.com/2021/05/halibut-na-ksiezycu-david-vann.html
castlelass's review against another edition
3.0
Halibut on the Moon is focused on mental illness and possible suicide. Not recommended for those suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts. It is hard to say I “liked” this book due to its grim subject matter, but I appreciated it as an intense portrayal of the extreme highs and lows of what I assume is bipolar disorder.
The main character, based on David Vann’s father, Jim, arrives back in his hometown from his current residence in Alaska. Jim visits his therapist, family, and an old friend over the course of a couple days. His brother is asked to stay with him and safeguard his guns. Jim is obsessed with his ex-wife and sex. He suffers from guilt, despair, self-pity, insomnia, and loneliness. He feels worthless, disconnected from his sense of self. He cannot shut down his thoughts. This book constructs a psychological portrait that delves into the heart of a very personal tragedy.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher, Grove Atlantic, via NetGalley in exchange for a candid review. It is scheduled for release March 12, 2019.>
The main character, based on David Vann’s father, Jim, arrives back in his hometown from his current residence in Alaska. Jim visits his therapist, family, and an old friend over the course of a couple days. His brother is asked to stay with him and safeguard his guns. Jim is obsessed with his ex-wife and sex. He suffers from guilt, despair, self-pity, insomnia, and loneliness. He feels worthless, disconnected from his sense of self. He cannot shut down his thoughts. This book constructs a psychological portrait that delves into the heart of a very personal tragedy.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher, Grove Atlantic, via NetGalley in exchange for a candid review. It is scheduled for release March 12, 2019.>
aegireads's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jesus christ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Mental illness, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Gun violence
_bettybooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shelleyann01's review against another edition
4.0
A storm in close, everything bending and blown. And when the wind accelerates, nothing is ready for that...but it all bends and comes back.
From the first sentence, I knew Halibut on the Moon would be an emotional read. Vann created a flawed character that readers cannot help but worry about. Every time I closed the book, my mind would wander and think about Jim. As the book progressed, I began to slowly turn the pages out of fear and dread about what was waiting around the corner. Vann honestly wrote about the messiness of bi-polar disorder.
I can’t be saved, there are too many hours alone. It just goes on and on and everything hurts. My whole body hurts.
The book starts strong, beautifully creating the backdrop for an unusual story that reflects perseverance of the soul more than anything else. The use of a main character with bi-polar disorder was unique and intriguing. Halibut on the Moon will grab your heart and keep you involved. You will feel deep emotion as the story unfolds and you will experience the stress of the players as the author vivdly describes their feelings.
Wouldn’t everyone be happy to be finished with Jim, including Jim ? We all want to be finished with Jim.
This is one of the most moving books I have read in a long, long time. It is painful and wonderful and awful, all at the same time. The story of a man with serious bi-polar disorder. It was so beautifully written, and the characters were so interesting I enjoyed every moment of the emotional journey. Jim's voice, even through his pain, made me think about love, sacrifice, death, and the meaning of it all and showed the strength, any person who deals with mental illness, needs to just live day by day. I was fascinated by the glimpses into bipolar disorder.
Time isn’t this thing you have to get through. It’s nothing. Just live your life.
What an incredible poignant book, Halibut on the Moon is a book that will make you laugh, cry and remain hopeful through the dark seasons of life. David Vann is a talented author with the gift of capturing the raw and real emotions of having mental health issues. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley, Grove Atlantic/Grove Press and David Vann for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#HalibutOnTheMoon #NetGalley
All my reviews can be found on my blog: https://shelleyann01.blogspot.com
From the first sentence, I knew Halibut on the Moon would be an emotional read. Vann created a flawed character that readers cannot help but worry about. Every time I closed the book, my mind would wander and think about Jim. As the book progressed, I began to slowly turn the pages out of fear and dread about what was waiting around the corner. Vann honestly wrote about the messiness of bi-polar disorder.
I can’t be saved, there are too many hours alone. It just goes on and on and everything hurts. My whole body hurts.
The book starts strong, beautifully creating the backdrop for an unusual story that reflects perseverance of the soul more than anything else. The use of a main character with bi-polar disorder was unique and intriguing. Halibut on the Moon will grab your heart and keep you involved. You will feel deep emotion as the story unfolds and you will experience the stress of the players as the author vivdly describes their feelings.
Wouldn’t everyone be happy to be finished with Jim, including Jim ? We all want to be finished with Jim.
This is one of the most moving books I have read in a long, long time. It is painful and wonderful and awful, all at the same time. The story of a man with serious bi-polar disorder. It was so beautifully written, and the characters were so interesting I enjoyed every moment of the emotional journey. Jim's voice, even through his pain, made me think about love, sacrifice, death, and the meaning of it all and showed the strength, any person who deals with mental illness, needs to just live day by day. I was fascinated by the glimpses into bipolar disorder.
Time isn’t this thing you have to get through. It’s nothing. Just live your life.
What an incredible poignant book, Halibut on the Moon is a book that will make you laugh, cry and remain hopeful through the dark seasons of life. David Vann is a talented author with the gift of capturing the raw and real emotions of having mental health issues. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley, Grove Atlantic/Grove Press and David Vann for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#HalibutOnTheMoon #NetGalley
All my reviews can be found on my blog: https://shelleyann01.blogspot.com
lucsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book has a really funny title and that's the last time you will feel jo before opening it because this is not a light story. The main character, Jim, is dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts and from the beginning of the book, there is this sense of doom, sadness and hopelessness throughout the book.
The author has an interesting writing rhythm that makes the main character clash with the rest of the people he is surrounded by and that he has to interact with, which is perfect when it comes to Jim and his decease because that is how depression makes him feel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for this ARC.
The author has an interesting writing rhythm that makes the main character clash with the rest of the people he is surrounded by and that he has to interact with, which is perfect when it comes to Jim and his decease because that is how depression makes him feel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for this ARC.
chaaw's review against another edition
5.0
Toujours aussi bien écrit, tout aussi incroyablement bouleversant, horrible, remuant et génial (oui, tout ça !)