Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow

4 reviews

cpreeta6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Please check the content warnings of the book before reading it. If you are feeling even a bit down, I would suggest not picking the book up.

Its a story about a girl who lost her only parent, her Mom, and how she deals with the world after that. She goes about her life finding herself alone, and then not. It's about found family, yet it is mainly about grief, and how different people deal with it.

Emotional. Packs a punch. The second person perspective made it hit harder than it should have. 

A few things at the end feel rushed - I felt they were added as an afterthought... Just to add more pain and suffering in the character's life, or to introduce a few characters at the last moment.

Some thought provoking questions were asked, some tear jerking scenes. Can make you cry.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death of parent, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Alcohol, and Eating disorder

crystal689's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Car accident, Abandonment, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide, Bullying, and Eating disorder

Minor: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Physical abuse, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Self harm, and Sexual violence

anielabooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

This book was definitely a book about the grieving process. I suggest anyone considering reading this book to check  the trigger warnings beforehand. While I was not the target audience Glasgow wrote for, I did find this book very important; I think everyone should expose themselves to this type of writing at least once in their lives. In my experience reading “How to Make Friends With the Dark” I learned so much about the foster system, among other parts of the lives of orphaned teenagers. This book truly leaves you seeing people differently and wondering who around you could have a difficult life at home.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Terminal illness, Abortion, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Vomit, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, and Eating disorder

hitheremynameislisa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Violence and Drug abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide, and Terminal illness