Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

1262 reviews

0993_mydas's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm

lindasoderlundd's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Medical content, and Car accident

menstruasian's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

Pleasantly surprised by this book. It’s something I didn’t know I needed until, and I must say I did chuckle a few times right before tearing up. It was emotional and inspiring in all the right places. A reminder of the potential in being alive and to have a belief in potential. Insane how many coincidences aligned prior to and during the reading of this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

amcurry32's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

tupeloallie's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Drug use, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

mollyhab's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Minor: Self harm

yogabbygabby19's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Toxic relationship

alexisaflop's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.75

First of all this book does something that every other book I love doesn't do: has a proper ending that shows where the characters go. 
I really enjoyed the flow of the book and the metaphors that were consistent throughout but not overbearing and obvious. 
The only way I would change it would be how I found it odd she never tried a life twice. At the end she wanted one that was like the one with Molly but only slightly different. I thought she would try that with maybe the band one where she was happy but Joe was dead. Maybe she could have said, I choose to stay in the band and choose to get Joe into rehab or smth. 
It's only February but a strong contender for favourite book of the year.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

swamphouse's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

Another review called it a ‘self help book in disguise’ and I would tend to agree. But it’s not just that. It was a good story despite the darker subject matter. A quick read that was rich with descriptors and characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-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

The plot of The Midnight Library is best described as It’s a Wonderful Life meets Quantum Leap with a dash of Back to the Future, and Matt Haig expertly melds and melts the various tropes found within these three pieces of media into his own unique narrative. I have great familiarity with all three pieces of media, and I was pleased to find that Haig does not rely on prior knowledge in order to enjoy his work. In fact, I found the Easter eggs quite delightful!

I also found it refreshing to read a narrative from the perspective of a female main character written by a man that felt like a real human woman could do or say the things he was describing. I really resonated with Nora’s struggle to find her place and purpose in this crazy, mixed up world we find ourselves in, a world which seemingly gets more crazy and more mixed up as time goes on.

I felt both seen and supported as Nora—sometimes harshly, sometimes gently—learns what she values, what she needs, what she wants, what she has to offer, and, most  importantly, what she is worth, simply by being a human who exists and not what she can do or be for others.

In terms of technical writing aspects though, I feel that 95% of the book has clear, concise writing, which thankfully doesn’t sacrifice either sentimentality or periods of reflection that required for a narrative centered around depression and mental health recovery. The last few chapters seem a little bit shaky in terms of wrapping things up, but I also think this can be chalked up to Nora being on unsure footing as she enters a new phase of her life.

All in all, an excellent book that really hits close to home in the best possible ways. I definitely almost cried a few times. I can see why this book received so much good press when it first came out!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit