Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

A Anomalia by Hervé Le Tellier

31 reviews

sarah984's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I thought the concept of this book was really cool - the characters are duplicated with a four month gap and have an opportunity to make different choices - but the execution didn't work for me. The setup is way too long and the book is much more about the simulation theory than any of the characters. I never felt really connected to anyone and nothing interesting happened. Also the book within a book of The Anomaly sounded terrible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Terminal illness, and Torture

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

lianne_rooney's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, and Medical content

vbigv's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I think I was a bit disappointed with the length of this book - It's quite short and it feels like all the characters could have an entire 300 pages dedicated to their story so getting so little on each character and on the main event that changes their lives is a bit frustrating, but I understand this is also a decision from the author.
A nice quick science-fiction piece that will make you think all the while entertaining you. Worth the read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, and Terminal illness

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, and Pedophilia

sweeetpeasoup's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This was the best and most interesting book I’ve read in a long while. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I will be thinking about this book for ages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

lemonflower's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Suicide, and Terminal illness

Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

quotes_with_a_quill's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is not one I would have chosen, but one that will stay with me. One of the few I will order for my shelf. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Terminal illness, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

The (s)child abuse is description brief and not graphically written. The scene is implicitly implied without graphic description- ie disassociation. Again brief. From someone whom experienced nearly a replica of the characters it was triggering and yet validating to a degree. It is an accurate portrait of disassociation. It’s brevity is unlikely to trigger those who do not have a history of this, though that is speculative. I would not have read this book had I known it was in here, but I will reread it even though I know it is there. I only listened to the audiobook, but when I receive my print copy I will update this with page number. It is truly a paragraph of disassociation and the only one that was personally triggering to me. ( I wish I could leave an emoji of hearts and hugs if you’ve had this experience. Just know this is written w that in mind.)

_kathill's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Murder

lyko100's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

First of all, this book has some triggers in it so it may not be for everyone and I’ll try to list those triggers in this comment - without spoilers. 

At the beginning we learn about various characters who are of different age and each of them with a completely different story. We somewhat get to know them, see their flaws and later in the book we observe how those characters change and adapt to weird and indescribable circumstances. We see the characters observe their own behavior in a analytical type of way, and change their own behavior based on what they saw. 

The book touches various topics: from child harassment, through homosexuality in orthodox parts of Africa to metaphysical existential debate. 

Hard to say more about it without spoiling anything, overall a very good book with a rather predictable ending - hence 4/5. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Murder

lemonmeringuepie's review against another edition

challenging mysterious 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, and Suicide

astridrv's review against another edition

funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Violence, and Grief

Very well paced book, that I read easily over 24 hours. The first part of the book was in my eyes really successful in creating believable characters and an intriguing set-up. The other two thirds delivered, but delivered an average book, pleasant, gripping enough, ultimately forgettable. I think the author had a lot of fun writing this and also had a heart break to process. Both make for a charming book that does not reach as deep as the premise and ambition (visible in the endless philosophical references) would lead you to believe.