Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Galatea by Madeline Miller

48 reviews

cloudface's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

If you enjoyed Circe, or if you want a sample of Madeline Miller’s work before diving into her full length novels, I highly recommend picking up this short story. It’s a powerful retelling that points out the disturbing implications of the original myth, much Circe and Song of Achilles. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Gaslighting, and Medical trauma

lacrimaeignis's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

The story of Galatea and Pygmalion is one that has always been a source of controversy for many. Madeline Miller's version tells the story from Galatea's perspective and allows Galatea to have a hand in her own destiny rather than being forced to abide by Pygmalion's desires. It would have been interesting to see how things would have played out in a full novel version of the story but the short definitely covers everything it needed to. With it being a short story, it echoes the tradition of many mythological sources especially Ovid's Metamorphoses which Miller was inspired by for this retelling.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Confinement, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Suicide

leahjanespeare's review against another edition

4.0

Pygmalion may have given his statue life, but Miller has given her agency. This is the perfect gift for any mythology lover. It brutally examines how women are perceived as objects under the male gaze, twisting the narrative to give this overdue perspective the attention it deserves. Sure, it's a tale thousands of years old, but still completely relevant today.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Gaslighting, and Sexual content

em_davies7019's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Abortion

Moderate: Abandonment, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Cursing, Violence, and Medical content

thesawyerbean's review

emotional sad fast-paced

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

2.5

This was an interesting short story with a poignant message about misogyny and patriarchal ‘ownership’ within the scope of Greek myth. 

I did however think the voice was strange and alien to the context - it read more like a contemporary than a myth retelling, which isn’t necessarily a problem but made it read rather weirdly. 

The afterword in this edition was amazing for explaining how Madeline Miller came about writing this adaptation and the discourse she intended to portray.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Abortion, Medical content, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Cursing, and Sexual content

jazzyiz87's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Rape, and Emotional abuse

kayladaila's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Medical content, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Pedophilia

Minor: Pregnancy

adoto's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Sexual violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

moogle_exe's review

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

I wish the story was longer, I could not get enough of the characters and the story! An insightful outlook on incel males and the perverse artistic pursuit for perfection. It was a twisted story of possession and freedom, with a very strong willed female lead. A must read for lovers of Miller’s other works. A short story you can eat through in one sitting, but will stay memorable for the rest of your life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Abortion, Confinement, Sexism, and Sexual content

caterina's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This is the feminist retelling that we needed for the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea. Miller shines a light on the disturbing misogyny that always felt like it was seething under the surface of this myth. Take a look at the content warnings before diving in!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Body shaming, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship