Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson

10 reviews

kimikreil's review

challenging dark emotional funny sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Drug use, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

kquixotic's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

I wanted to think carefully before writing this review because I struggled to like this book, but I felt like a jerk about that.

This is a very realistic (and sometimes TOO real) observation of the life of someone who has survived sexual assault, racial and gender-based trauma. I am generally compelled by such characters, but I was annoyed with Vivian as well as all of her friends. Admittedly, this could have been because I recognized a lot of myself in many of her traits. That’s something I’m willing to muck around in IF there’s a good story happening within and around the characters. 

But I kept looking for a plot and simply couldn’t find one. Every trail felt like a sub-plot, and I never understood where we were going. It just felt like gratuitous interloping in the life of someone (understandably) struggling with family, romance, career and mental health, literally to no end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Child abuse, and Violence

filmnoirz's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

the main character, vivian, was insufferable more often than not but it was so difficult to not be sympathetic towards her. not an excuse for any of her actions, but i understood how her past lead her there and even saw a bit of myself in her. the comments about fatness and body issues were harsh and uncomfortable, and the ending felt a bit rushed. however, i think it’s an interesting read that covers the effects of past abuse and the “obligation” to the family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia and Eating disorder

Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse

Minor: Violence, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

mitskilover's review

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

3.75

found the ending to be kinda flat i feel like it was 200 pages of build up for kind of a basic and quick ending. very race and gender conscious otherwise and made me think of activism as a potential side effect of ptsd in a way 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Violence

selfdubbed's review

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Rape, and Self harm

svmreads's review

challenging dark reflective tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death

brightestwitch_maddie's review

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Eating disorder

whoanelle's review

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, and Violence

ebonyrose's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I have a soft spot for unlikeable, insane, wretched women characters in novels. I love them. Love when they are irredeemable, crass, and awful people. And, even so, the main character of this novel was almost too much for me. She was so...abhorrent. Judgemental, mean, vindictive, selfish beyond measure and very unpleasant. But Vivian was also sharp, funny, fierce and deeply traumatized. It was hard not to get pulled into the deepest and darkest recesses of her mind and not begin to root for her, just a little at first. And then a lot. Post-Traumatic has a meandering plot following Vivian's life as a psych ward lawyer, pothead and dating addict, but this is a character study first and foremost. The plot is really very secondary to the deep interiority of this novel.

I was struck by the writing in this novel. It is that distinctly millennial style - sharp and darkly funny, with such crystal clear and honest observations about people and relationships that it almost takes your breath away. So many moments in this novel where I'd stop and think I thought I was the only fucked up monster whose ever had a (weird/ violent/ bizarre/ scary/ devastaing etc etc) thought like that?! In the vein of Normal People, or Luster or Insatiable, reading this book was cathartic, frustrating, frightening, and illuminating all at once. I won't forget it any time soon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dysphoria, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Classism, Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, and Misogyny

honneyyy's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

4.5

Incredible insight into the mind of a woman navigating her own trauma. Entirely too relatable made me cry several time love it. Do not recommend for ppl in ED recovery

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Minor: Rape and Violence