Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Wounds of the Dead by Vikram Paralkar

2 reviews

miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-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

4.5

Very gorey and kinda gross but really well written

‘Even through the walls of the room, the surgeon could feel the pressure of the heavy sky, and of everything beyond it.’

‘Why was it so difficult for him to express true gratitude, to speak freely, perhaps even let his eyes water at this earnestness?’

‘Perhaps that was why one died: so that one could finally fathom death.’

‘Somehow the prospect of the afterlife seemed to cause the surgeon less distress than he felt it should. Perhaps if he were less drained, the ghastliness of it might have overwhelmed him. But now, in this little room, surrounded by the apparatus of this mortal world, one of which was a prepared bed, the afterlife seemed like a distant calamity, to be confronted at a later, mercifully unspecified, date.’

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astroem's review against another edition

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

5.0

Honestly, one of my favourite things about the book is how it never refers to any of the characters by name, they all have epithets that describe their occupation, age or status in society. I greatly enjoyed the references to Hindu mythology woven throughout the story as well as the philosophical explorations mixed with the medical thriller-esque writing of the medical scenes. The ending was a little odd, but it fit perfectly with the themes of the story. 

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