Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

43 reviews

camilleberedjick's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Suicide

librarymouse's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

About a third of the way through this book, having googled David Starr Jordan, I was ready to finish this, as a hate reader if need be. Jordan was, without question, a horrible man. The atrocities he inflicted upon the world with his promotion of eugenics outweigh any good he may have done as a scientist by multiple orders of magnitude. Seeing Lulu Miller's hero worship of the man was off-putting, the more I learned of him. However, I ended up really enjoying this book as I read on, as Miller explores her own life alongside Jordan's, she brings along the reader. We learn of the atrocities he's committedin the same order she did while conducting the research for this book. It's still hard to have the hero worship of the young Jordan, with his love of stars and rescy jokes, when faced with the knowledge of his role in the American Eugenics movement.

Jordan's hands-on malicious acts, like his touring endorsement of eugenics and the possible murder by poison of his benefactor are completely bonkers. I am constantly amazed that people Revere him, while simultaneously understanding, as I, too have been in awe of the young man he once was.

This book breaks down every facet of Jordan, from his political, religious, and social beliefs; to his family life, addressing each idiosyncrasy with data driven research.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Grief, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Racism, Child death, and Homophobia

milliemudd's review

dark informative medium-paced

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide attempt, and Murder

jes312's review

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Medical trauma, Murder, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Minor: Infidelity

apparentlyalix's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Murder

cornfusedsnow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Murder, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

hello_linzie's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Classism, and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Murder

strawberrymoonceci's review against another edition

informative reflective

4.5

This was an incredibly interesting book. She paints such a vivid picture in all the scenes, even the ones she didn't witness. I was very curious about the name of the book, I was also curious about the importance of this taxonomist. It was a gripping read, fascinating really. The audiobook version is wonderful, and I found the little nugget included at the end so heartwarming. This definitely made me want to read more book about natural history.

I absolutely did not expect the plot twists to include murder and eugenics! I think it's very interesting how Robert Starr Jordan went from allegedly covering up a murder, feeling wracked with guilt about it, to making eugenics his new purpose in life. What an absolute monster. The book is a masterclass in how to write a villain. In the beginning you hear mostly praise for him, there are definitely criticisms but you can see the author choosing to focus in his great capacity for perseverance, only for it to take a dark change, and for him to end up being responsible for the death, torture and mutilation (amongs other things) of tens of thousands in the US alone. Also, the US was the first country to make eugenics into national law. Which is so interesting considering the national narrative about it role in WW2. Not the least surprising though. I am surprised at how engaging this book was, considering I didn't like the author at all. Her writing is great, but she did not pass the vibe check. Also, fish dont exist as a category, that's the answer to the title. And Robert Starr Jordan can suck on that!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Torture, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Murder, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Rape, Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Infertility, and Medical trauma

Minor: Death and Child death

val_so_'s review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, Ableism, Suicide attempt, Hate crime, Sexism, Misogyny, Death, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Homophobia

Moderate: Confinement, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Xenophobia

lara112's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

Found it perhaps a bit slow for my style but the ending and generally just the whole book was magnificent. Made me feel like I had just been filled up with sunshine and wrapped in a big hug. Loved it xxx

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Murder, Ableism, Death, and Forced institutionalization