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shankarhere's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
yorozuya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Set in Colombia in the 1980s, this short novel focussed on a young girl, Claudia, and how she tries to make sense of her family's dynamics: The happy memories, their interactions with people in their small circle, the rifts and of course as the title indicates, the abysses. The central part of the abyss was brilliantly worked out, both in the literal and more metaphorical sense! I felt so bad for Claudia who has to deal with a mother who does not care enough and more serious issues as the novella continues. I got to read this work of fiction in Spanish, the original langaugewormlibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
ARC courtesy of World Editions and NetGalley
Pilar Quintana wrote Abyss from the point of view of an eight year old girl in '80s Columbia being confronted with adult reality.
Books written from the perspective of a child are usually heartbreaking for me and Abyss is no exception. Piecing together the world through Claudia's eyes, we see generational trauma being passed on as the people around her deal with being stuck in their roles in a world where depression is a taboo subject. Claudia's experiences are all too universal and familiar; a child slowly unraveling the mysteries of the adult world, a girl seeing and understanding way more than the adults around her think, and a woman filled with the abyss in the making.
New favorite, great translation.
Pilar Quintana wrote Abyss from the point of view of an eight year old girl in '80s Columbia being confronted with adult reality.
Books written from the perspective of a child are usually heartbreaking for me and Abyss is no exception. Piecing together the world through Claudia's eyes, we see generational trauma being passed on as the people around her deal with being stuck in their roles in a world where depression is a taboo subject. Claudia's experiences are all too universal and familiar; a child slowly unraveling the mysteries of the adult world, a girl seeing and understanding way more than the adults around her think, and a woman filled with the abyss in the making.
New favorite, great translation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
ahnminjim's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Pregnancy
katishin's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt