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Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk: A Novel by Kathleen Rooney
20 reviews
wynnebirchmaple's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
It’s hard to tell a story during the course of 1 day. New York City, New Years Eve 1984. Lillian Boxfish, modeled after real life person Margaret Fishback, decides to take a walk to ring in the new year. She visit old haunts where painful and joyful things have happened. As she walks key memories of her rise to success in advertising and publishing during the 1930’s onward and the challenges of pioneering as a woman executive. She also shares her breakdowns, marital betrayals and to some extent failed motherhood to readers. Lillian walks and readers experience New York and how it’s changing.
At the sentence level, author Kathleen Rooney, has a beautiful sense of poetry and narrative. Rooney knows when to quip, when to use specialized language, when to insert posh French to elevate the moment, and one to just lay raw emotions bare. She is truly an artist.
This book is not plot driven, as Lillian does not victimize nor does she allow herself to be victimized. At times she is in potential danger walking the streets of New York at night. There is no clear pattern as to when Lillian will be triggered and immerse readers in her somewhat painful past and when she will step off the grid and face to face with death which she manages to defy even at 85.
I enjoyed witnessing Lillian look mortality right in the eye and accept that her time is coming and that even though she’s reexamining her life not seeking remediation or change.Albeit she continues moving forward. We all end up in the same place big marks, relevance, impact or not. Lillian simply shows reader that a rich life is best experienced in the relationships one engages in and in using one’s capacity for innovation. It was oddly peaceful.
At the sentence level, author Kathleen Rooney, has a beautiful sense of poetry and narrative. Rooney knows when to quip, when to use specialized language, when to insert posh French to elevate the moment, and one to just lay raw emotions bare. She is truly an artist.
This book is not plot driven, as Lillian does not victimize nor does she allow herself to be victimized. At times she is in potential danger walking the streets of New York at night. There is no clear pattern as to when Lillian will be triggered and immerse readers in her somewhat painful past and when she will step off the grid and face to face with death which she manages to defy even at 85.
I enjoyed witnessing Lillian look mortality right in the eye and accept that her time is coming and that even though she’s reexamining her life not seeking remediation or change.Albeit she continues moving forward. We all end up in the same place big marks, relevance, impact or not. Lillian simply shows reader that a rich life is best experienced in the relationships one engages in and in using one’s capacity for innovation. It was oddly peaceful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
rodiemom's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Lillian Boxfish is so charming. The book is slow throughout and because of that a little hard to get into. But just like the strangers that Lillian turns into friends throughout her walk and her memories, she becomes a friend. I was sad to say goodbye to her at the end of her walk. I enjoyed this so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
maryannc's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
lindsayhotrod's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
There’s a lot going on in this book besides an octogenarian walking around NYC one cold NYE. While reading this book, I kept finding myself telling little anecdotes from Lillian’s life to people IRL like “I’m reading this box about this old woman, and get a load of this thing that happens…” I liked this book for a lot of reasons, but what I really loved was the evolving narrative structure that braided the (relative) present with the past in ways that feel familiar at first, but become much more complex and human as we reach the middle periods between the beginning and end of these time periods. What starts as an enjoyable but lighter “independent working gal in the big city!” keeps twisting to crack Lillian and her backstory open a little more, and then a little more, so that by the end, Lillian is somehow both a completely different person than you think she is at the beginning, and yet has been so crisply drawn that it all makes perfect sense. For all the ways it’s clear she is an unusual woman, there is a lot of relatable resonance expressed through often very poignant phrasing. The wordplay and language love throughout delighted the hell out of me, but importantly, moved past a gimmick or being too clever for its own good when balance shifts and the writing takes a turn towards sadness or brilliance, and guts you before you see it coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
btothebooks's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There was something charmingly vintage of this book - like watching a Katherine Hepburn movie. The story telling aspect of it and the timeline back and forth made it easy to find good pausing points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Minor: War and Alcoholism
natschieff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
read_with_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is about a woman in her 80s who takes a walk around Manhattan on New Year’s Eve, 1984. She meets a lot of people along the way, and reflects on her life as she strolls around the city.
I loved how this book was kind of a love letter to nyc, a look at her life and an adventure story all wrapped into a book. I thought Lillian was a spunky and likable character, but also was not without flaws and that realness that I appreciate in a character.
I think the biggest reason I gave it 3.5 stars is because while I appreciated her reflection on life and the city, I was kind of hoping we’d get to see even more into the lives of the people she met along the walk.
Overall, this was a lovely book and if you like a nice character-centric novel or enjoy a book that takes place in nyc, then I think you’d enjoy it!
I loved how this book was kind of a love letter to nyc, a look at her life and an adventure story all wrapped into a book. I thought Lillian was a spunky and likable character, but also was not without flaws and that realness that I appreciate in a character.
I think the biggest reason I gave it 3.5 stars is because while I appreciated her reflection on life and the city, I was kind of hoping we’d get to see even more into the lives of the people she met along the walk.
Overall, this was a lovely book and if you like a nice character-centric novel or enjoy a book that takes place in nyc, then I think you’d enjoy it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
pancakethefinch's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
It was the perfect book to read over the first week of the year, as it takes place over New Year's eve. Lillian Boxfish goes on a walk through one city, and one life.
Such a charming main character, and a beautifully written book. The author clearly loved writing this book, and I loved reading it.
I recommend you take a walk with Lillian, you will not be disappointed.
Such a charming main character, and a beautifully written book. The author clearly loved writing this book, and I loved reading it.
I recommend you take a walk with Lillian, you will not be disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Racism, and Sexism
chelseylb1988's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Gun violence
amandalawrance's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It took me a while to get into, but it was delightful and intriguing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism and Violence