A review by kateea7536
The Selfless Act of Breathing by J.J. Bola

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Wow. I’ve never read a book like this. It is so emotionally raw and vulnerable and filled with so much pondering of life and how it should be lived and what matters. This also encompassed identity, belonging, race, class, wealth, sex, love and friendship. SO MUCH was done within one book and it so sensitively handled every topic that it raised in a way that did not feel false or deliberate, but natural and heartfelt. I was blown away by how moving the prose was and how well written, including an extensive use of metaphor and description that was spellbinding and lyrical (although sometimes perhaps there were too many metaphors!). The only thing I would have loved was dates as well as locations of each chapter, since it was difficult to follow what Michael was doing in what order, but perhaps this was part of the experience, the idea that he was swimming through all these places and feeling searching for something.
Ending was fantastic but I would’ve loved to have heard more from the characters perspective. 
I also felt frustrated at times that Michael didn’t tell people what he was feeling or reach out, but I understand that this is probably a very realistic for someone who feels this way. 
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