Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Amêndoas by Won-pyung Sohn

75 reviews

tinyjude's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

2.5

I liked the idea better than the execution by far. Many people with this condition have already explained how the narrative and the portrayal of Yunjae feel ableist and ignorant at many points, so I won't add anything because they did a much better job and it's not my place. It's true however, that the final chapters' message rubbed me the wrong way, as it seemed to suggest that someone with that condition was not human and only through love they can be considered human. He is described as a heartless monster too. I found that very disrespectful. 

Furthermore, although the idea of using such polar opposites (Yunjae-Goni) to make them more complex and have some development, was interesting, Goni was such an unlikeable character, who fell flat and underdeveloped. The social critique was interesting in some points, thou, like calling out how some people who are considered compassionate and empathic, can look at someone else's pain or tragedy and not be moved, since it's not their own.

Many other plot points just were completely unrealistic and jarring in contrast with the overall narrative (which attempted to be realistic). Such is the climax of the novel, the way the teacher introduces Yunjae to the other students, and the lack of depth/research in the descriptions of the condition.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Animal death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship

chireadsandchill's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Deadnaming, Grief, Violence, Medical content, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood

leanne_miron's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Ableism

Minor: Gun violence

courto875's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Mental illness, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death and Child abuse

theliteraryteapot's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

What a quick read it was! Unusual for me.

I really liked it, it's quite an emotional heartbreaking story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Bullying, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Animal death, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse

unsighted_reader's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

stardustdreamer's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, Murder, Bullying, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Ableism, and Torture

Moderate: Confinement

book_voyager's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Death, Ableism, and Injury/Injury detail

mykes's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

polyglotbookworm's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I really liked the development of the protagonist. Quite nice portrait of a portion of the Korean society.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Animal death, Violence, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Murder, Medical trauma, Torture, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail