Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy

4 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Like a train wreck, I couldn’t look away from this book, even though it was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever read. Having never read any Kafka, I think this classifies as Kafkaesque. It was disturbing and somewhat nonsensical. Although why I’m shocked about the strangeness of a novel about the development of a cult for men to learn to be human again escapes me. After reading this book I feel uneasy — like the reality I thought existed doesn’t? And that’s an unnervingly odd feeling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Classism

agavette's review

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The more the book went on, the more it felt like a Black Mirror story that hit close to home in a lot of ways--great for a satirical novel. I laughed, I was disturbed, I was impressed--It kept me engaged throughout and was a quick read. I'm not sure if I'm satisfied with the landing, but I think it'll stick with me for a while. Major TW for eating disorders.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Suicide, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

caseythereader's review

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-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

Thanks to Atria Books for the free advance copy of this book.

📚 Uh. I have no idea how to review this book. I liked it? It was horrifying? It was hyperreal, surreal, too real?
📚 I hated everyone in this book and it was great.
📚 McElroy skewers everything from influencers to tech startups to beauty culture to cults themselves - and somehow it all feels fresh. Minus a bit of a lag around the middle, I needed to know what would happen next because I didn't know what might be on the next page.
📚 Honestly though, the best dystopian fiction is the kind where you could envision it actually happening, and that is absolutely true with nearly everything that happens in THE ATMOSPHERIANS. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent

isnotacrayon's review

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent