Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Als je het licht niet kunt zien by Anthony Doerr

45 reviews

diegocanread's review against another edition

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4.5

This book hit me in a way that only a 500 page book can. When it takes me that long to get through it, the distant memories of the characters feel just as distant to me since it's been 300 pages. Didn't think I'd enjoy a WW2 book so much but it just followed people. There were multiple times I can close to crying but did not. Also such a well written blind character in this book: looking at you Marie-Laurie

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rachelmorag's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.25


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nialiversuch's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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


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apiora215's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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jlautry's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful sad tense slow-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? No

4.0

My first 500+ page read in years and my first paperback library book (I was very nervous about damaging it). 

Two teenagers, a blind French girl and an orphaned German boy navigate their way through WWII. This story was beautifully written and the imagery is *chef’s kiss*. 

But I do want to know what the author has against commas. 🤔 I got some use out of my (very limited) German knowledge, so that was a plus. 

Loved:
  • Short chapters
  • Imagery
  • Attention to descriptive detail
  • Multiple narrators
  • Storylines

Disliked: 
  • Short chapters sometimes gave you whiplash with how quickly they jumped back and forth
  • Can be confusing to know who is narrating. Chapter titles don’t always indicate and it can take a bit to realize where you are 
  • Took me ~150 pages to really get invested
  • Sentences can be an entire paragraph long
  • I think the author has a grudge against commas (or he needs a better editor)
  • The last few parts (especially part 13) were completely unnecessary

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korinnagarcia's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Anthony Doerr is such an exceptional writer. The way he sets up individual stories and then intertwines them all in the end is so beautiful. The first quarter of the book is extremely slow and somber and I didn’t become truly invested in the story til about half way. But once I did, I was hooked. I think Anthony Doerr did a wonderful job of giving a new perspective to a time that has been written about in every which way.

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gemstone's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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redheadorganist's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75


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medmiston's review against another edition

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

5.0

Hauntingly beautiful.

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breewee's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I didn’t realize it took place during WWII (I usually avoid those) and found it to be a very interesting angle. I enjoyed the different POV style.

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