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Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
Prowadź swój pług przez kości umarłych by Olga Tokarczuk
16 reviews
nabila99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
there aren't enough audacious, passionate, idiosyncratic, philosophical, and simply unhinged older ladies in literature! it was such a delight being in our protagonist's world, despite the astrological jargon completely flying over my head. what a gorgeously written, poignant, atmospheric, story (def would classify this as a character study rather than a thriller, although it was truly a kick when the final few chapters of the book finally furthered the plot and the unreliable narration!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, and Alcohol
clarabooksit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
While this isn’t a go-to genre for me, I liked the many threads to this story and how Tokarczuk wove them together. There’s a lot of good story and character crafting here. However, the ending ruined it for me: not only was it predictable, but the lengthy, detailed description of exactly how and why the murderer killed the people they did was unnecessary and annoying. There are enough layers to the story that just a brief reveal of why they did it would’ve brought the threads together nicely, no need to spoon-feed the reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, and Sexism
bookish_wanderer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, and Mental illness
catunbound's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Fuck yeah animal rights. Fuck yeah crazy, old women. Loved the tone of the book. Gave me a feeling I haven’t had before, but probably will never be able to let go of again. Lots of snow! Someone just as passionate as me! Here’s to “crazy” women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.
On a more serious note, this book brings out the systemic flaws in the way we treat women, not only those who may have a standing in society, but especially those who are constantly marginalised. In a literal way, Janina lives on the fringes of society and is very well deemed to the local crazy old hag. She has acclimatised herself to her surroundings, fully living the woodland life. She studies cosmography (how she likes to say astrology), has prophetic and supernatural dreams, and is a protector of animals. I like her, sometimes. But the point is not to have me like her, its to realise that even though we may not understand her, she deserves to have her voice heard loud and clear. This book is a brilliant nod to the olden “knowledgeable” women who were persecuted, marginalised, and burnt at the stake as witches. It deals with authoritarian callousness, animal rights, oddball neighbours (the anthropological need to have a little community of people), and unheard, ignored women’s voices. I am probably too dumb to understand this book on a deeper level but i love it for what i have understood.
On a more serious note, this book brings out the systemic flaws in the way we treat women, not only those who may have a standing in society, but especially those who are constantly marginalised. In a literal way, Janina lives on the fringes of society and is very well deemed to the local crazy old hag. She has acclimatised herself to her surroundings, fully living the woodland life. She studies cosmography (how she likes to say astrology), has prophetic and supernatural dreams, and is a protector of animals. I like her, sometimes. But the point is not to have me like her, its to realise that even though we may not understand her, she deserves to have her voice heard loud and clear. This book is a brilliant nod to the olden “knowledgeable” women who were persecuted, marginalised, and burnt at the stake as witches. It deals with authoritarian callousness, animal rights, oddball neighbours (the anthropological need to have a little community of people), and unheard, ignored women’s voices. I am probably too dumb to understand this book on a deeper level but i love it for what i have understood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, and Death of parent
ladydisdain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I highly recommend this to anyone feeling intimidated by Literature as a reminder that books are written to be read (and anyone operating with a different agenda is. Maybe wrong?). This book feels like a Nobel Prize winner that has been translated from Polish, and this does not present as a barrier to reading for sheer enjoyment. The narrative meanders in a deliberate manner that did slow me down in the middle, but the voice is engaging enough to power through easily. I would venture that this is not a book or characters that many will find personally relatable, but they are written with such tenderness that I cared as deeply for the tight ensemble at the center and the unfamiliar world. That is not to say that this extreme specificity in setting is necessarily alienating- there is a universal recognition at the heart that is. Probably why this book won a Nobel Prize.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, and Mental illness
sneako's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Grief