Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Procurando Jane by Heather Marshall

8 reviews

breanna_gaudaur's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Abortion, and Confinement

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. This is me teaching myself how to breathe again, because I almost forgot. I am simply astounded by what I just read. Looking for Jane is written in a way that makes the reader feel like he or she is a part of something big. Furthermore, to write about true events without conveying the facts like you are writing a research paper is a real skill, and Heather Marshall has mastered it. Inspired by true stories, we follow our main characters through three separate timelines: 1971, 1980, and 2017. There is a ton of foreshadowing in this book, and I STILL did not guess the big giant whopping colossal enormous supercalifragilisticexpialidocious twist at the end. Talk about tears! As mentioned in the author's note, this book is about abortion and the right to choose, but it is also about so much more. I think there is room for a sequel, because something Sister Agatha said to Nancy was not addressed or revisited. I would love to read more. I'm going to go hug my mom now. Wow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Medical content, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Infertility, Confinement, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Grief

Minor: Blood

kawooreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Medical trauma, Medical content, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Abortion

Minor: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Rape, Death of parent, and Death

thrillofthepage's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Racism, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, Abandonment, Child death, and Miscarriage

cailinfitzgerald's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Blood, Rape, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Abortion, Infertility, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

maddiet425's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-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

4.5

Loved this book! It was easy to get through which is the most important thing to me. I also loved the subject matter, and the complexity with which it was discussed. I do have multiple small problems with this book though. The multiple POV’s were confusing at times, and Angela’s story didn’t seem to fit in. I also didn’t love how preachy it felt at times, but my biggest problem was the ending. It made no sense to me,

Spoiler

who is the Evelyn we read about at the beginning of the story? Is it the really Evelyn or is it the fake Evelyn? If the real Evelyn is telling her story throughout the St. Agnes chapters (which makes sense due to the yellow booties, etc.) then why does the fake evelyn mention at the end of the story that she wanted to give the baby to her brother?? That was something the real Evelyn wanted! It seems the author was as confused as the reader when writing this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Death, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Confinement, Suicide, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Infertility, Death of parent, Vomit, Child death, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Rape, and Grief

amycarreira's review against another edition

emotional sad

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Medical content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Abortion, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide

soobooksalot's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

"Do not mistake your humanity for weakness."
 Where to begin on Looking For Jane?
 For starters, I loved this book. Such important messages about choices, motherhood and female empowerment; of medical safety and accessibility. 
 Of heartache, and groundbreaking victories for women. 
 Looking For Jane is told in multiple timelines among three main characters - Evelyn, Nancy and Angela. 
 Blending composite fact and fiction in Canadian history from the 1960s to present, the characters provide emotional insights into varied reproductive journies. 
 We are taken from a "maternity home" with forced adoptions in the 60s, to the road of legalizing abortions in the 80s, and the choices not easily - or at all - afforded in each.
 I'm beyond impressed with debut author Heather Marshall's writing. It feels genuine, effortless (though I know there's no such thing as effortless in writing).
 This is a special, unflinching read with some unexpected moments that absolutely kept my pages turning.
 Though I know not everyone will be comfortable with the content, it's such an important part of our recent history and becoming more relevant each day.
I can't recommend this book enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Self harm

Minor: Cancer and Infidelity