Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

1092 reviews

sillygoose48's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: Mental illness and Death

beancastro's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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

3.75

finding the beauty in life after a suicide attempt

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Mental illness

saliwali's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Medical content

I made it 30 minutes into this book last spring and stopped because, trigger warning,

it starts with suicide because someone is losing everything and I was afraid it would push me over the edge.

But the last category on my 2023 reading challenge is "a book you started but didn't finish," So I gave it a another shot this week. I wish so much that I had made it to minute 36 last spring, which is oddly the whole point of this unbelievably beautiful and hopeful book. Spoiler alert: she thrives.

sohfeeyah's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mental illness, and Death

rachel_glenn's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Midnight Library was sweet and reflective. A bit predictable, but it was pretty short so you didn't need to wait long to validate your expectations. Kind of like a slice of apple pie. You know what it tastes like, and it's just right.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Addiction, and Suicidal thoughts

ash_bees's review against another edition

reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

"Where there are books, there is always a temptation to open them."

Reminiscent of the movie "It's A Wonderful Life," except instead of only experiencing one alternative, the protagonist experiences many.  It does get a bit preachy, but so did "It's A Wonderful Life."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Vomit, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

thimi_time's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

This is such a poignant book! The themes explored are explored in such a way that is just…beautiful. And the underlying message is so inspiring. Though this isn’t exactly my style of book, I didn’t have the moment of “oh, I love this book”, it was an amazing read, and I will definitely be recommending it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Self harm, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, and Infidelity

madanxiety's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad tense

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

5.0

This is the best book I've read in a while, maybe all year. I found it a very touching read as someone who has struggled with my will to live. I am a new teacher, and one of my mentors was recently telling me that one of the main ways that authors convey theme is through perspective shifts. This book made me think that logic can be applied to life as well - that the theme or message of our lives is dependent on our perspective, and if we want a positive or meaningful life, we must only view our lives positively and meaningfully. Well, I'm not arguing that that's ALL we have to do - systemic inequality and other situational factors will always be at play. But to make the most of what we've got, perspective is key. And, I think as this book demonstrates, changing your perspective is not easy; but after much confusion and trial and error, it is possible.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcoholism and Addiction

saltphxchic's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Cancer, and Death of parent

allymf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

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

4.5

It's a good, reflective, insightful, philosophical, highly readable piece. I would recommend this book most to individuals who are depressed about their future or are seeking meaning while facing serious choices or undergoing a major life transition. I would describe the feeling of the book as confrontational, cathartic, and ultimately soothing/therapeutic for those people. Major trigger warning for suicide ideation, but tackles this issue compassionate y.

Only thing it needs is maybe... Less predictability? A bit more excitement? The message is good but maybe a bit too on the nose at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Mental illness