Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

4 reviews

3mi1y's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Stalking, and Suicide

Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Death, Eating disorder, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Miscarriage and Alcohol

horizonous's review against another edition

I don't hate it but I also don't think this is going to be more than an okay book for me, hence the DNF. I am looking forward to the adaptation with Jodie Comer though 😊 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, and Sexual content

Minor: Infidelity, Drug abuse, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking

alicialicia's review

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Weird & darkly humorous. Found myself entranced but also struggled to feel as though some of the emotional dynamics taking place between characters were earned.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Stalking, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Blood, Infidelity, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness

Minor: Vomit, Rape, and Cancer

thevioletfoxbookshop's review

dark emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

In an old Dutch farmhouse full of bees and lead paint, Greta transcribes sessions between a sex coach and his patients. Greta becomes fascinated with one of the patients, whom she refers to as Big Swiss. When Greta and Big Swiss meet at the dog park, their lives become irreversibly entangled.

Big Swiss is the sort of strange and beautiful novel that you have to read to believe. It's utterly shocking, absolutely hysterical, and beautifully cynical. Honestly, it was unlike anything else I've ever read.

I laughed out loud on every other page, rolled my eyes at the pervasive hipster things Big Swiss pokes fun at, and thoroughly enjoyed the quirky atmosphere.

However funny and entertaining, though, know that Big Swiss is also an intimate and often disturbing portrait of mental illness, infidelity, and trauma. It's a close encounter with human damage and nothing is off limits. The characters' flaws are glaring and their desperate attempts to cope feel all too real.

Raging feminism, bunk psychology, and bisexuality all mix with ennui, infatuation, and humor in Jen Beagin's newest novel, Big Swiss. It's a book you won't want to leave and one your mind will probably still be puzzling over long after you've finished reading it.

And just in case you haven't already heard, Big Swiss is already in development to become a show on HBO (and the book isn't even out yet)! You know the rule - the book is always better, so read it first! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Cursing, and Stalking

Minor: Self harm, Blood, and Cancer