Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimear McBride

42 reviews

moonilism's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

3.25

Errr ok so if you like books that contain at least one character that feels happiness for at least one moment in their life, probably not the book for you. If you like complete sentences and fully formed thoughts, also not for you. To be fair though, I like both those things but I definitely appreciated the merit of this book. It's a short read, but a tough one. It's unlike anything else I've read, told from the first person in a full stream of consciousness detailing family tragedy, sexual depravity and the environment of shame from which it all sprung. My Irish friend read this and said it reignited her hatred for the church. Maybe that says enough? This was a really epic undertaking to write, I can imagine, and kudos to Eimear McBride for doing it. Just maybe don't choose it as your summer beach read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cancer and Death

slimyweed's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

ionamcewan's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

0.25

I hated absolutely every minute of this book. While the form and prose was beautiful the content was utterly diabolical and seemed to only serve to cause pain. I would recommend reading Lanny if you want similar form but a much better story or watching I may destroy you for similar themes explored in a much more sensitive nuanced way. I learned nothing and feel aweful. I wish I had never read this book 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

alisonkolonick's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

hannah_bookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, and Alcohol

daretoread's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

theartoflanguage's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Formally inventive and also one of the most emotionally brutal books I've read ever. That's a good thing, but makes for a challenging read. The shattered syntax is an effective illustration of the inexpressible trauma that underpins our narrator's every move. Just as she is half-formed, so the prose reflects and expresses her barely formed thoughts in start stop rhythm. Absolutely brilliant!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Suicide

pessimistically_optimist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

kthnlb's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

frank_patrol's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

it took me 2 months to read this book, i had a reading slump half way through it, but it’s also quite difficult to read, not impossible and like you get the main point of each part but it may take a while to actually realise what’s going on 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Religious bigotry