Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Good Morning, Monster by Catherine Gildiner

44 reviews

firedew's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, and Cancer

whatchusellin's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

This book was really really good. The topics were incredibly heavy and all five of the clients went through deep trauma and abuse which could be triggering. I really enjoyed the vastly different cases that all come back to the human condition of wanting and needing connections with others. And how your past will haunt you until you face it. Lastly, the authors narration was really interesting to hear the therapists perspective, especially when she shared points that did not make to her clients. I definitely recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

jessierose617's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment

confused_cat's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

3.75

This is a story of human resilience and how complex the human brain is.
I read this book in a couple of days (which is very quick for me), skipping some parts that are just too much to read (i.e. Alana's story)
I feel a bit conflicted about this book. Yes, their stories are important. I do wish the people in the story the best of life. But I don't think I will recommend this book to anyone I know. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Moderate: Incest and Sexual violence

mxfrog's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

throwback682's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

2.75

As others have mentioned, this book has lots of problems, including the audiobook narrator putting on Chinese and First Nations accents, deadnaming and other transphobic comments, among others. There were just so many times that I cringed. The author at times seemed self aware but often was just painfully out of touch. The book did feel rather exploitative, and often felt fake. I felt like it was particularly insensitive about sexual abuse, for example the way the author distinguished between “violent” sexual abuse and… what?? It’s all violent! I think I agree with other people who called the book trauma porn. I did (enjoy doesn’t seem like the right word) parts of the book. I did gain some understanding into how childhood trauma can impact people, and felt hopeful at times that I and people I love can heal from difficult things. But overall the book felt pretty icky. I’m kind of shocked how many people uncritically loved it. Definitely read with caution especially if you’re a survivor of abuse, especially sexual abuse or child abuse generally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Genocide, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Drug use, Infidelity, Excrement, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, and Dementia

This book is all about people who have overcome HORRIFIC things, mostly in their childhoods. It is very very difficult to read.

arantxalasa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Genocide, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

paris_nicole's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

In this book, a retired therapist recounts five of her most memorable clients. She refers to them as "heroes" throughout, because of their resilience after extreme abuse/neglect. They all come to her as adults and she uses a psychodynamic approach to process their disturbing childhoods. 

As a therapist myself, I was intrigued by her techniques and approach. I am not psychodynamic and do not treat severe trauma, but learned some things that I will take with me into my own practice. I especially appreciate how she was candid with her countertransferance and mistakes along the way. She exhibited patience and restraint during her years long relationships with each client. 

Regarding the individual stories, they are quite disturbing. Trigger warnings for child neglect, traumatic separation from parents, child emotional abuse and childhood sexual assault/violence. 

Overall I enjoyed this book. I think fellow therapists will appreciate it, but it can be enjoyed by non-therapists as well. The stories will definitely stick with me for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

zoeysdigest's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

A very informative and moving read. It was easier to follow than Maybe you should talk to someone as the ‘case studies’ were clearly segmented, it was also less about the therapist’s own life. However, the characters had more triggering and extreme issues that made reading difficult at times. Would caution all to read up on the content warnings before proceeding.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

csmoke85's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent