Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

El encuadernador by Nieves Calvino Gutiérrez, Bridget Collins

2 reviews

uparrowhead's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

This book was definitely a challenging read for me, weaved in the huge emotional plot of the story. It does have a hopeful ending, but there is a lot of darkness and pain that you'd need to get through first. I found it rewarding, however, and a very interesting read that touches on a few issues that are faced both now and throughout history.

Many of the reviews I've read call the book slow-placed. With that, I have to agree. However, I think that the pacing of the book fits the content and story that it tells quite well. At certain points, however, like the climax of the story, I can understand how it was annoying and boring to read through, but I mostly didn't mind it.

Something that I have to appalude Bridget Collins for is her use of language and description. Many of the settings of the book were written out in a way that easily sucked me right into the novel, and the writing in the book was, overall, of high quality.

I really enjoyed the premise of the novel; the idea that you could take someone's memories and bind them into a book that they will forget forever. It gave way and allowed the book to explore darker concepts of society, and made the story much more engaging to read through.

I do believe that certain parts of the story weren't developed as much as they could have been,

with the death of Seredith, which seemed to stop effecting Emmett as soon as the book moved into Part Two and Three, and the ending which (although heartwarming) left some questions opened and unanswered in the story.

However, I liked how the majority of the plot played out and, despite times where I wanted to throw this book across the room (which I didn't do, courtesy to it's beautiful cover), I was left satisfied and happy in the long-term of the book.

WARNING : The book does change its POVs throughout Part One, Two, and Three of the story. I personally liked how it was executed, but I know it is not for everyone, and a lot of reviews I've read on here say that it was done poorly and left readers confused.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

bemaline's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I should have heeded the content warnings. It don't know that I would recommend it to most, but it was interesting. Could have done without the animal death.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, and Classism