Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

11 reviews

feralbookwife's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.75

Haunting in every way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Blood

eve81's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Sexism, Racism, Gaslighting, Torture, Bullying, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Classism

artis_meretrix's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense 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

3.0

Beautiful imagery of nature. Horrifying exploration of pressured consent. Reminded me of the quote “when you are not fed love on a silver spoon, you learn to lick it off knives.” 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexism, Animal death, Torture, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Racism, Classism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Vomit

kiddocut's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Fantastic quick read about a boiling family drama, framed in a setting that calls back to class, gender and academic background-and how that affects our ability to interpret  the world both in a literal and emotional sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Classism, Child abuse, Sexism, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Bullying, Body shaming, Racism, Blood, Torture, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Sexual content, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Cultural appropriation

There is a use of a slide one time-to describe a character’s inability or stubbornness to adapt his language to modern terminology in a historical context. I didn’t anticipate it and I wish there was someone who mentioned it. It’s a story heavily about a fractured and demanding father whose daughter is just discovering herself. It is well written and I think all TW that I applied are accurate.

bossybookworm345's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Gaslighting, Death, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Vomit

allisonmeyette's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I think this is a book I will have to read again and again. Stunning writing, and over too quickly. The pace of the book is very slow up until the last 15-20 pages. It's one of those books where if you read it too quickly and don't digest it as you go, you don't get everything out of it (which is what I'm afraid I did). It's also quite creepy while really immersing you in the world that the Professor is trying to create. Please see content warnings too, as there are a LOT of possibly triggering themes in the book and may not be for everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Violence, Bullying, Animal death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cancer, War, Classism, and Vomit

clemrain's review against another edition

challenging dark informative slow-paced

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

3.0

Most of the story I was waiting for some sort of plot to kick in. It didn’t, but not every story needs a plot. If the characters were more complex and had shifting ideas, they could’ve done enough for the story. But the characters weren’t interesting to me either. 

The writing was beautiful and Moss has a unique way to her prose. The detailed scenery and thoughts come simultaneously. It was fun to read. I’m looking forward to reading more from Moss.

I think it could’ve been a better story if condensed. A lot of the plot was the same day repeated. It’s definitely a read for theories, and I was looking for a simple read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Animal death

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Classism, Gaslighting, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Misogyny

brucethegirl's review against another edition

In the early 90s, a young woman's father signs the family up for a university on site experience living as neolithic Britons. A time when "men were men and women did as they were told" a time "before any dark skin ever entered the island" and a time Sylvie's dad idolizes as the epitome of living, when he held control due to being the man. But also present are university students, who open Sylvie to the tangible possibility of a life outside her father's violent control. 

What I think I loved most about this book, as an Anthropology student, was the way even the professor ignored the blatant evidence in favor of "roughing it" with a fellow ancient briton enthusiast. While a number of times, he explains to the father that "well no, they wouldn't have eaten with their hands, that just doesn't make sense." He also is more than happy to let her father dictate what the camp does and focus solely on hunting and discussing fighting.

To the point that at the end, he is an active participant in the torture of Sylvie, a minor. He ignores the obvious- that Sylvie had no choice about her participation, that Sylvie and her mother are beaten, that he should be acting more authoritative over the course attendees all in favor of having a good time and "maybe I'll write a paper about this" Including taking photos of Sylvie- again a teenager- as she is stripped, dehumanized, and humiliated. It was such a scathing depiction of scholarship and academia. And I think it's something that's lost to the other more sensational and overpowering themes. But I think that's exactly it- people ignore the issues within academia because "but they're smart. They are educated!" and don't think that the problems of classism, sexism, racism, can permeate the hollowed halls of upper education- when really that's where they are shored up and allowed to run rampant. The professor is a prime example of this, allowing Sylvie's father to run roughshod over the entire course because he's an armchair archaeologist and allows the professor to indulge in his fun. 

Then there are the more obvious- the theme of abuse and sexism. How Sylvie's father believes if he goes far enough back in British history, he'll reach a time of purity. He is a cruel, hateful, small man. The way the book handles the theme of abuse of power is so well done. I get angry just thinking about it. But I also remember how powerless I felt while reading. Moss really captures that helpless, overwhelming fear so well. She is able to light that fire so subtle that you don't notice until it's burned as bright as a forest fire in your soul. You hate this little man and how he uses his strength not to protect what he cares about- but to make sure they remember he is strong. He feels weak in other areas of his life and needs the people in his life to remind him he's strong. He is what evil incarnate means. Not just for his closed minded beliefs, but because he takes joy in the pain and suffering of his child and his wife. He is glad when Sylvie can't sit down because of the wounds he inflicted on her. He is happy when his family is hungry. He literally makes me so angry. 

Which brings me to my only issue with this book- the end. It just cuts off. There's no resolution- and I know its because this is the early 90s and at the end of the day, its very likely no justice would have been served. A time when abuse "within reason" was still allowed from both parents and schools. Even if the nature of the crime, and photo evidence, were well beyond reasonable, especially as there was no "just cause" for the abuse. I like to believe he served jail time, but that also leaves the question of where Sylvie will go. Where will she stay? Very likely her mother won't allow her home. Too warped by the father. I hope she stays with Molly, and is able to see the world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Animal death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia

decembermagpie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcohol

annabookpaiges's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Violence, and Gaslighting