Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

De details by Ia Genberg

10 reviews

jayisreading's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

3.25

I’d take this short reflection with a grain of salt, only because I was really not in the headspace for a novel that required the reader’s undivided attention. As the title suggests, this novel is all about details, particularly getting into the minutiae of them all. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that nothing happens in this novel, but I found that Genberg relies heavily on the reader to carefully work through the details to unravel the meaning of four impactful relationships that the narrator had. In other words, “nothing happens” in the sense that it’s not so much about having a plot, so much as it is about reflecting deeply on the people we hold close to our hearts. As a result of not being able to concentrate at the time of reading, though, I had a pretty difficult time getting through this book. I think what really didn’t help was that it had a near-absent and vague plot; even if I were in the right mood, this probably would have been my main criticism.

I can see why The Details got shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, because the writing and intention behind the novel are provocative. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t in the right headspace for this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol

Minor: Rape

apthompson's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Grief

lotten's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Rape

clairephillips's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Incest, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

evakarolina's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

readwithchar's review against another edition

reflective slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, and Alcohol

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

2.25

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

If someone were to ask me how to describe this book, I wouldn't know what to say because I honestly have no idea. The Details contains 4 chapters with each focusing on a person who's played an important role in the narrator's life. It's reminiscent to a memoir; it could also be auto-fiction. We learn a lot about the aforementioned focused characters, but not nearly as much on the main character herself. 

I don't think this book is for me, but it's undeniable that the writing definitely hits, at times amazing me with how the author manages to capture such personal - though now I realize they're perhaps universal after reading this book - thoughts and feelings. Ultimately, Genberg's novel is a compilation of obscure vignettes with no plot, whose strengths, in my opinion, lie largely in the writing that can pierce deeply, as well as the unpredictability of the story whose little twists and reveals can be surprising and evocative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Death of parent

edilund's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Death of parent

aitiite's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death of parent