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rliedtke's review
5.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
raelong12's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
Moderate: Mental illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child abuse
jaiari12's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
tetedump's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Self harm, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Rape, Physical abuse, and Vomit
graceesford's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Misogyny
Minor: Mental illness and Police brutality
katieb1034's review
- 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
Graphic: Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
shewantsthediction's review
- 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
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
travelseatsreads's review
- 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
It's quite astonishing that this is a debut novel because in all honesty the level of writing is quite unlike any I've read before. I was completely struck by how Johnson was able to convey the feeling of hypervigilance so well within the pages and on so many occasions I felt myself there at one with Vivian in a state of over analytical hyper vigilant stupor. The constant unease of hypervigilance is an incredibly hard state to even describe yet somehow Johnson makes it jump straight from the pages.
Trauma and its effects seems to be quite a fashionable topic within fiction at the moment, however, for the most part the stories are woven around a girl who is deeply broken, unable to function or even in some cases has resorted to enforcing her own trauma on others. Chantal deserves huge praise for showcasing a girl who has experienced overwhelming trauma and is still living. Sure, she may be damaged and have a multitude of bad coping mechanisms that cause her to make many bad choices, but within Vivian the author shows us someone can experience a huge amount of trauma and still be a fun, vibrant and contributing person.
Something which is also rarely spoken about normally yet is dealt with amazingly within Post-Traumatic is the concept of estrangement from a biological family or family members. On the rare occasion you see it referenced within books it's a throwaway side plot with little significance and is usually down to something trivial making it seem like a totally taboo concept. However, Chantal gives it the full fleshed airing it deserves and really questions at what point is blood thicker than water and when is the right time to step away. Post-traumatic highlights the importance of self-care and having the ability to walk away from hugely damaging situations despite the social stigma and creating your own chosen family which is right and safe for you.
Despite, the book showcasing such dark and intense subject matters there is an overwhelming sense of humour and wit bubbling through its pages. Vivian exhibits a survivor's gallows humour and is able to make jokes where others would shirk away in horror. Her deeply witty and satirical take on things shows to allow her to detach from her previous traumas and live some days with pure enjoyment and those moments are truly refreshing to read.
On top of the topics I've mentioned above the book also deals brilliantly with issues of race, intersectionality, shame, attachment issues and so many more of the other impacts trauma can have on a person but I have to stop typing at some point.
This can only be described as an essential read, it is an overwhelmingly brilliant debut unlike any I've seen before. Just please be mindful of your own headspace before going into it.
(Very happy to discuss trigger warnings or content etc. with anyone who is considering picking it up)
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Racism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Dark yet brimming with dark humor, Post-Traumatic examines trauma and its impact through a refreshingly non-white lens while also serving as a rebuke of the U.S. medical and judicial systems.
Almost everyone in this book is messy, and I don't mean in a bad way. The characters have stuff going on, each going through different things, yet they're rendered multidimensional and complex by yet harming one another in some way, thereby illustrating the impact and often cyclical nature of trauma. The main character Vivian perhaps best embodies this point through her current struggles with various issues - be it insecurity, body dysphoria, an eating disorder, looking to men for validation, infidelity, etc. - borne from her traumatic and abusive childhood experiences.
I also like how the novel delves into the topic of family, which is even more complicated for POCs as a result of historical exploitation and intergenerational trauma. Is blood truly thicker than water? Can familial bond justify neglecting self-care and having one's boundaries crossed? The author explores both sides of the argument well and this aspect is thought-provoking.
The exploration of social issues are enjoyable as well, such as the intersectionality of identities and the exploitative medical and justice systems. The former is often darkly comic and witty, and the latter is adeptly shown, perhaps aided by the author's personal and professional experiences.
Though I personally think the writing could be more distinctive, overall I enjoy this novel. For its representation and the issues it raises and explores, Post-Traumatic is a novel that's long overdue.
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, and Infidelity
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Vomit, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault