Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac: Stories by Louise Kennedy

5 reviews

hanyaya's review against another edition

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4.25

4.0 for the book as a whole, rounded up for how good In Silhouette is
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siobhan28's review against another edition

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

2.5

I enjoyed some of these short stories, others I found the pacing all over the place and were difficult to read. Most stories had really complex women as main characters which was nice to read however most of them were sadder stories  
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hannahbailey's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

An interesting if bleak short-story collection. Not one for those looking to escape the misery of normal life as every story is a mirror to the woes of humanity. Might appeal to those wanting to read more Irish literature.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free e arc in exchange for an honest review
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lianne_rooney's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A wonderful collection of short stories, each one more than capable of standing on their own. I found them to be utterly magical, with a mystical quality that captivated me from the very beginning. Many of the stories have elements of Irish folklore, nature, or our countries' past with themes such as alcoholism, depression, and grief being explored. 

In "The End of the World is a Cul de Sac" we learn of a woman who has been abandoned by her property developer husband in the ghost estate he funded. While in "Wolf Point" (one of my personal favourites) a father looks after his daughter while his wife is suffering from depression. These stories focus more on the harsh and bleak realities of life. A spellbinding collection that I would recommend anyone to read.  
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