Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

48 reviews

trapdorr's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I almost DNFed at 60% but I am happy I saw it through. When the perspective switched to Wren’s mother I lost interest at first but then I pulled together again. I wish the timeline was more linear and we got more of Wren and Louis’ relationship before his diagnosis cause I feel I wasn’t invested in their love story enough. Interesting concept tho. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death and Abortion

mcgriddles's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

chelle22's review against another edition

emotional

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

ispeakpurple's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was way better than it had any right to be for a book about a guy turning into a shark. The writing itself was so beautiful, but beyond that, the story was heartbreaking in the best way. It used the bizarre transformation into a shark as an exploration of mental illness, terminal illness, love, loss, the meaning of life, the meaning of death, and the frailty of human connection. It was funny and it was happy and it was melancholy and it was devastating and it was all of those things at the same time. This is possibly the best book I've read in years. It seems weird, but honestly, it's worth giving a try.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

avacadosocks's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, and Abortion

dweeks417's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

The premise and structure of the book is really well done. The writing is beautiful, if at times going too far with the purple prose. Sometimes the writing is so focused on seeming beautiful and meaningful that it becomes disconnected from the characters. I liked the intergenerational structure and actually enjoyed the mother's section the most. But god is this book bleak. I do not understand people who said this book is hopeful or inspirational. It's just sad, and the women characters suffer the most. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Abortion

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I loved the use of scripts interspersed in the story telling as well as the three distinct acts in three time periods. I originally wanted to give the book 4.5 but the ending really through me for a loop

although perhaps not intentionally it was giving a strong pro-life sentiment that did not resonate well with me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Grief

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape and Abortion

cait_reads_and_drinks'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

veronica214's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

 It's almost feels as if a novel was written by Wes Anderson. Quirky, some unique formatting, and thoughtfully written. The story alternates timelines so there is a lot of back-and-forth. I wasn't a fan of the ending, but I loved everything else about the story.

Wren's husband is diagnosed with a mutation that turns him into a great white shark. In this alternate world, people can have genetic illnesses that turn them into various animals. Wren and Lewis have to accept that their lives will change. Soon, Lewis won't be able to communicate or remember Wren. This is a story of adapting and moving on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Violence and Suicide attempt

emilycecilia's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

What a weird, lovely book. I did not go into this expecting it to be a five star read, but it really surprised me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Blood