Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

Shark Heart: A Love Story by Emily Habeck

5 reviews

dexlud's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-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

5.0

Oh my god. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is possibly the most beautiful, tender writing I’ve read in my life. The story woven throughout these pages is split and muddled around and yet it is still a beautiful one none the less. We follow so many different people, all of which contribute to Wren, our main character, who went from a hiding girl to a strong woman.

There was pregnancy in this book, which had been hinted at for a while, but is still a surprise.

I believe the entire point of the book is to be a sort of comparison against dementia, especially with how the mutation progresses. The parallels are uncanny and it almost definitely reminds me of it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

tetrootz's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Abortion, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

stefcornell's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.25

The way this book is written is intriguing and entertaining. For folks that have been a caretaker for a family member with an illness, this book is heart wrenching. While the illnesses portrayed in the book aren't your typical ones, they feel reminiscent of real illnesses.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

megan_mac_'s review against another edition

sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

2.25

this book was not for me. I get what the author tried to do, but to me it wasn't successful. I was annoyed at a lot and overall didn't really enjoy the reading of it. Kind of a bummer. 

Best part for me was Margaret B Finnegan 😂

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage

rover_under's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful fast-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

4.5

This book is a much faster read than the page count suggests, owing to its unique style. Some scenes are written as screenplays or diary entries that extend to only one or two sentences per page. I enjoyed the book. It was heartfelt and its allegory toward illness and death felt impactful and was used well. 

I don't know if I have the life experience to evaluate the book in this way, but despite the absurd premise of the book, the subject matter was handled well.

One thing I was confused by is the author's choice to hide Wren and her mother's mutation until late in the book. I initially excused it as being part of the past self that Wren had chosen to leave behind, but Lewis seemed to know all of it, though I can't recall it referenced in the first part of the book when he's going though his metamorphosis. It felt awkward and strange to have not been told since I'd initially thought it was Wren hiding it from the other characters.

Otherwise I think it's a fantastic book with a very engaging style, and I would fully recommend it for anyone who felt comfortable with the subject matter discussed.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Dementia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Abortion