Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

21 reviews

06_trinity's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Death, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

andreamhi's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

eminent_reader's review against another edition

fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship

eloise648's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Blood

Minor: Cursing and Alcohol

ifwyshay's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad 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

3.5

this book made me laugh and sad. a good mix of corny and it was so easy to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Outing

nabaraditi's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

Being a psychology graduate I was intrigued by the title. I wanted to know what goes on in a person's head when they're rescued after a suicide attempt. I was disappointed to later find out that it's a fiction novel. Alas, it was a good story. It was very realistic. 
I can't exactly put my finger on what I didn't exactly like in this book. Hence, 3 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Death of parent

winter01's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

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

dkeeton2100's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Overall a good read. Reflective and entertaining. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

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