Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

76 reviews

kirk0198's review against another edition

reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Not really into the "father-son story of my dad is an asshole and I'm messed up because of it and am dealing with it now. " Childhood backstory and trauma interspersed through quick paced adventure tale. Gritty.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

chicitytyty's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Whalefall, once you suspend some of your disbelief at a human being eaten by a whale and attempting to escape, was an emotional ride. 

The chapters were short and the choice for the PSI oxygen headers decreasing gave this a sense of urgency that had me read flipping through pages to find out what happens. 

The main story wasn’t the whale but the relationship between a teenage son and his father. A story of growing up, finding that people are imperfect, of acknowledging the good times even in a sea of bad memories. 

The Whalefall was a death and a poetic journey that I’d recommend to others. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Suicide

anna_dunn's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Blood, and Death of parent

aprilb_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

cdundes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I WHIZZED through this audiobook - despite some heavy handed passages I was captivated by the concept and found myself double checking all the science.  Maybe time for Cannery Row soon…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Death of parent

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic

septi's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Pandemic/Epidemic

kylieqrada's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-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? Yes

3.5

UGH I feel so torn about this one. Daniel Kraus’ writing is gorgeous and so lyrical. Mix that with scientifically accurate whale lore and a poignant exploration of father-son relationships. Very confusing mash-up that kinda worked for me? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic

swampthoughts's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.5

High survival and childhood trauma but in a whale

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Death of parent

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

rknitss's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-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

4.75

This is the story of a teenager coming to terms with his estranged father's death and their complicated history. This teenager has also be swallowed by a sperm whale and has 1hr of air left in his tank.

This was a difficult read for someone who has a complicated relationship with their parents. I came to the point of tears at times. You could really feel Jay's anguish thinking on all the hurts he suffered at the hands of his father, all the regrets he had regarding their relationship, all the things that could have been different. 

The whale is a character and a metaphor.

The descriptions of the inside of the whale are brilliant and horrific. This is not Jonah's nice comfy journey; Jay fights for his life (and the fight is messy) as he fights to understand the man he called father. I can only imagine the hours of marine biology research that went into this book. The science seemed sound to a lay-person like me and was woven into the story beautifully. You really believe that Jay can know the things about the ocean that he does, why he knows it, and his struggle to recall the parts that will keep him going.

Even the ending, which I was sure would disappoint, was well done and satisfying. 

Would recommend to people who like science thrillers, people who are into whales, marine biology and the ocean in general, scuba enthusiasts and people who like an exploration of character relationships particularly the relationship between father and son.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail