Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu

26 reviews

flashandoutbreak's review against another edition

sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

ayomiposia's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, and Violence

riverlasol's review

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

the first half i struggled with the pacing—it didn’t really match anything in the synopsis until halfway through. but i was determined to keep reading and it was totally worth it. this was a story of fierce love and fierce grief in equal measure, along with delving somewhat into modern nigerian politics, and it isn’t something i will easily forget.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

savvypotions's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

wkariuki_'s review

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a coming of age of story of what homophobia and hate can do to a person esp in a country where legislature is used as a tool to ingratiate hate and justify violence. 

It’s also a wonderful telling of self acceptance and the challenges to get there. It’s heartbreaking. I was left angry at the realization that this is a reality and what a waste!

It’s a story on how movements need resilience and vice versa. 

A small portion of the book talks about the political situation of a Nigeria whose government is also not alive to the realities of her people, much like many countries in the world, much like Kenya. 

The author captured grief beautifully and so wholly, it felt devastating to read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

eegonzalez1113's review

dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Alcohol

fatsss's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

apairofducks's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicide, and Grief

bojosephh's review

challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

brilliant. the ending felt a little didactic. which makes sense. Ani Kayode Somtochukwu is primarily an activist, and it jives that his first novel would be an argument for activism as a necessary mode for life. the ending while not feeling unearned, however, seems to buck against the style of the novel. it feels too neat, too pat. if this is where Ani was going, a different style might have been better. none of this detracts from its necessity as essential reading for anyone trying to understand queer African life as resistance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

aliciawithoutkeys's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence