Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Based on a True Story by Delphine de Vigan

2 reviews

theaceofpages's review against another edition

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

3.25

"When you're an adult, friendship is built on a kind of recognition, on complicity: a shared territory. But it seems to me that in the other person we also look for something that we only possess in minor, embryonic or frustrated form. So we tend to form links with those who have been able to develop a way of being that we incline towards but have not attained.
I know what I admire about each of my friends. In every case I could name what quality she posses that I do not or posses in too small a quantity."

This story follows Delphine (who seems to be based rather strongly on the author) and her increasingly toxic friendship with fan turned friend L. I loved the blurring between fiction and reality in this one (how much is actually based on a true story?) but there were sections I found less interesting. For example, there is a lot of talk about the writing process and although I do dabble in the art, I just felt like there was maybe a bit much of it. I mean, I completely get why it's there (I mean, it is a book about an author!) but I wasn't as invested in those parts. While I'm not upset that I read this one I am not particularly interested in seeking out more similar books.

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hamsterseiten's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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