Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

35 reviews

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

4.25

I was conflicted on what to think if this book as although I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was captivated throughout, I was shocked at how for a book recomendad for 14 years and up, how many of the darkest topics were suddenly introduced in the book (I recommend looking at StoryGraph’s content warnings if you want to be prepared for anything specific.

As with Thirteen Reasons Why, I know many would say this book glorifies suicide, but I think the language used that talks about why people felt the need to attempt to tale their own life and the specific thoughts that went through their head (which often are ones of peace, and yearning) are critical to being realistic and helping people connect with the characters. People who experience mental illness and suicidal ideation do not get to sugarcoat their thoughts and feelings and often don’t realize they are not alone, so I applaud the raw emotion and deep dive into the suicidal mind. That being said, I really think there should be a forward to this book that addresses what readers will witness in the book, in a way that promotes safe messaging around suicide. And I do agree it may be detrimental if someone DOES NOT finish the book as some individual moments in fact would be read as glorifying suicide but again, it is all part of being authentic in portraying the characters experiences.

The only thing I truly did cringe at was some of the unaddressed ableism, such as with the use of the “r” word which I know in 2008 was more widely thrown around but that does not make it any less gross. 

Anyway, I think this book takes a bold approach towards addressing very realistic but stigmatized experiences, that while being written with a lot of dark humor, involves a wide range of the strongest and most powerful emotions. There are horrible things that happen but also things that made me so hopeful and glad. I did love the book but also was unsettled by it and uncomfortable… but that was what I needed to feel. I just really need to stress the importance of knowing where you’re at mentally and emotionally when reading this book and checking content warnings if needed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Alcohol

notsosecretbookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

khanya_3's review against another edition

emotional funny informative medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

taylor_waylor's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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? Yes

3.0

I liked the book. It is very dark and triggering so I recommend looking at trigger warnings. This book is a lot. However, I feel that it’s a story that needs to be told. <not all lgbtq stories are completely happy and uplifting. It can be very dark and difficult for people depending on the environment. Some people have places where they can feel safe and not so alone. Not everyone has this, like Jeff. Jeff is a very complicated character. However I feel like his story is one just as important. It shows how people in the lgbtq community can feel so small and degrade themselves due to the environment around them.> The story wasn't perfect be any means. I feel like there were things that maybe could of been played out differently <the Rankin and Jeff situation was discomforting and I feel that there was other ways of going about it, but still having the same outcome> However I did still enjoy the novel for what it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Eating disorder

abby_raye's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THE BOOK: 
SA, coercion of sex, attempted suicide, suicide, self harm (burning/cutting), EDs 

 Jeff’s progress throughout his stay at the psychiatric hospital was a great mix for a book filled with emotion, humor, & darkness. Not many would understand the intensity of this story if they have not been in a similar situation as the multiple characters in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Car accident

jacksonstorm's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Blood, and Suicide attempt

samg01's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit and Murder

imaginethisreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

kredeprnz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

The way this book handled the MC's sexuality, and used it as a plot device was absolutely awful. The way it handled Sexual Assault and Rape was atrocious as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail

numbering_the_stars's review against another edition

funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Eating disorder