Morbid but beautiful

It's short, I finished it in a few days. The prose is hauntingly beautiful and the narrator's voice makes it even more of a delight. Reading about death is not fun, so leave it if that is what you are looking for.

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2 people found this helpful

morbid but i loved reading it

it made me feel understood and i loved how in detail it was. i would read again and wld recommendthis to people i know

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Wonderful

I loved this audio book. It kept me captivated throughout . Despite the obviously disturbing nature of the story, it is written with tenderness and I found the story to be strangely more moving and heartwarming than depressing.

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1 person found this helpful

Read again

It makes the book come to life with the boys words and their meanings. It’s just beautiful

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Disappointing

I loved the Marriage Plot so went into this with high hopes. It uses an annoying first person plural narrative voice to recount the macabre observations of a dysfunctional family in a disordered community. All of this makes it hard to engage sympathetically though one should given the subject. Others may like this - he's a good writer but this doesn't do it form.

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I enjoyed it but...

There is no doubt that this is a great book but as someone who battles with depression, I found this story a little bit on the grim side and a bit heavy going at times. It has none of the lightheartedness of Middlesex (which is one of my favourite books). Having said that, i would still absolutely recommend it. But also read Middlesex!

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Brilliant performance from Nick Landrum

Loved the narrator's understated, yet emotive delivery of this compelling story. I could listen to Nick Landrum's voice all day!

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2 people found this helpful

Incredibly written

It’s an incredibly well written story. The descriptions and imagery are beautiful and crafted with such care and precision. It’s a masterclass in metaphor and creative writing. However, the actual story is rather bland. It’s an enjoyable audiobook especially for those wanting something beautifully written, but it’s not a riveting story content wise. I don’t think I would read the book itself, for that reason, but listening to it is great.

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great critique on the romanticism of suicide

more fun to analyse than to read. narrator made it enjoyable to get through. nice singing.

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a story that holds up now more than ever

I've seen this book suggested as one to read in your late teens or 20s because of its coming of age theme, but it's just as difficult to "put down" (in an audio sense) at any age. Mental health is the main theme of this book - not just the topic of suicide but also obsession, as we hear loud and clear through the narration of the story told from the boys perspectives. a dreamlike tale of tragedy and snatched innocence as the young people of the story struggle entering the decay of adulthood.

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