Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller, Lulu Miller

5 reviews

strawberrymoonceci's review against another edition

informative reflective

4.5

This was an incredibly interesting book. She paints such a vivid picture in all the scenes, even the ones she didn't witness. I was very curious about the name of the book, I was also curious about the importance of this taxonomist. It was a gripping read, fascinating really. The audiobook version is wonderful, and I found the little nugget included at the end so heartwarming. This definitely made me want to read more book about natural history.

I absolutely did not expect the plot twists to include murder and eugenics! I think it's very interesting how Robert Starr Jordan went from allegedly covering up a murder, feeling wracked with guilt about it, to making eugenics his new purpose in life. What an absolute monster. The book is a masterclass in how to write a villain. In the beginning you hear mostly praise for him, there are definitely criticisms but you can see the author choosing to focus in his great capacity for perseverance, only for it to take a dark change, and for him to end up being responsible for the death, torture and mutilation (amongs other things) of tens of thousands in the US alone. Also, the US was the first country to make eugenics into national law. Which is so interesting considering the national narrative about it role in WW2. Not the least surprising though. I am surprised at how engaging this book was, considering I didn't like the author at all. Her writing is great, but she did not pass the vibe check. Also, fish dont exist as a category, that's the answer to the title. And Robert Starr Jordan can suck on that!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Infertility, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Child death and Death

nquinlan's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Rape

katyaw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

3.0

There are so many content warnings, I lost count. Suicide attempts, infidelity, drinking to excess, racism, depression, nihilism, murder, eugenics, forced sterilization, etc.

The author writes well, but the book really centers on nihilism and human destructiveness in the name of desperately searching for order and comfort in this world. 

I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone sensitive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Genocide, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape and Abandonment

empathephant's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Confinement, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Rape, Self harm, Police brutality, Abandonment, and War

Eugenics

jennifer_'s review against another edition

adventurous funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

A refreshingly honest, gentle narration of an interesting story. The true beauty of the book lies in its second half-- the culmination of the author's (and David Starr Jordan's) life experience. Why Fish Don't Exist is an interesting combination of science, philosophy, good, evil, beauty, ugliness, and a search for meaning. The care with which the author writes about the misunderstood members of society feels respectful and earnest, not patronizing or pitying. A well-written, thought-provoking read. Would recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity and Murder