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g_jefferson28's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness
jhartsoe's review against another edition
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Blood
jouljet's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
helen_t_reads's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Mental illness and Self harm
shantastic_reads's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
mappy's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, and Suicide
readersreadingnook's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, and Self harm
Minor: Medical content
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
It’s the story of the two sisters, Amy and Zoe, the close bond between them, and how that is impacted by Zoe’s illness. It’s also a complicated coming of age story one that involves a crush, a suicide, early university attendance, self-harm, a breakdown and travel disasters. It’s also a story that examines expression and creativity through words and through images. It is sparse and tightly structured, unfolding via a series of short vignettes which allowed the author to hone in on pivotal events. Some of the prose was gorgeous, perfectly capturing moments and meaning. “Every picture is a portrait of Zoe because Amy’s intention as a photographer has never wavered…what she’s always wanted is to capture and fix forever the presence of her sister, to contain her, to never let her go, or break, or even change.”
Generally speaking this was an intimate and personal book, the author clearly interrogating her own interior - thoughts, memories, motivations. However, I was frustrated by what wasn’t included. Potentially important and interesting parts of the story were simply not there - How did Amy feel after her hospital stay? Why didn’t Zoe visit? Obviously an author gets to choose what to include in their book, especially one based on their own life. Yet as a reader as felt I was left hanging a little.
I can see what motivated the judges to include this on the longlist. For me it fall in the middle of the pack and, while I still have a few books to read, I’m not sure it will make my personal shortlist.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide