Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan

53 reviews

diegor's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Lyrical, heart-breaking, funny and yet tragic. A worthy read about friendship, the meaning and sense of this bizzarre thing we cal "life" and some bloody good music.
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shaleen64's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

The book is split into two halves and reads like two different books. Whilst I have to say I didn’t really enjoy the first half it was certainly necessary to building the picture of Tully and James’s friendship. For those who better relate to the era it would be more engaging. 

However, the second half is beautifully written and is overwhelmingly emotional, forcing you to feel such a range of emotions in relatively few pages. This alone, in my opinion, makes it a four star read.
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potterpav's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

wow. what a short but utterly compelling read. books about sad topics that handle them in a light hearted manner will always do me in and this was no exception! whilst i’m not giving this book more than 4 stars (mainly bc i thought it could done w more filling out of when they were young) it is still a beautiful piece of prose, it’s truly stunning. there were some lines in this book that made me put my copy down and stare at a wall for a little bit. but that’s exactly what these kind of books are meant to make you do - remember humanity and how the people around you are the most crucial elements of your life! 
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liliana92's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really loved everything about Tully and Jimmy's story. The beginning was very interesting and the end was great, heartfelt and such a sweet depiction of a lifelong friendship.
But I must say all the Manchester trip stuff, the other friends and all the 80s music references kind of lost me there for a sec. Also, how Jimmy hinted, when older, that he had a period of not being as connected with Tully, but then not exploring futher, left me feeling like i was missing something. 
Overall, a worth read though. One I would recommend. 
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itsredandread's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

3.5

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irislovescats's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.75

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jjb21's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Some absolutely beautiful writing. A very evocative setting, time, place and feeling. Funny in places. Some hugely thought-provoking concepts and sections. Just felt like I didn’t go deep enough with the characters. But perhaps that’s the point?
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e11en's review against another edition

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challenging funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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linci's review against another edition

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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? No
Dear Matija, this was painful to read. The first two thirds because I didn't get the references and couldn't connec to the story or characters, and last third of the book because I couldn't see the pages from my tears. I hope nothings remotely similar ever happens to us and I hope we live a long and happy life full of music and movies and friendships, without Ulysses. I love you!
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gritsgritsgrits's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful 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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