Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Le Bal des folles by Victoria Mas

106 reviews

grace_r3ads's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Blood

cariad_llyfr's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

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

2.0

Characters are ok but what is really strong about it is the the discussion on women in the asylum. The truth comes through very strongly about how women were treated incarcerated and who by. The strength of that truth comes through feelings of sympathy, it makes the story heartbreaking so it's that truth that carries the story rather than the characters themselves. The story has gaps and scenes that feel thrown in and others that were pointless. It could have been done neater, there was so much potential but not executed well. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Rape and Suicide attempt

loxeletters's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I really enjoyed learning about 19th century Paris and the culture's misogyny, as far as one can enjoy this. It was very interesting.

I also liked the magical realism/supernatural aspects, though they were much less prevalent in the second half of the book.

This book actually challenged me on some of my core beliefs as a writer - the author does a lot of "head-hopping", which is usually frowned upon in modern fiction, though it used to be quite common in classic literature. It forced me to confront whether I actually don't like this technique or whether that was just ingrained in me from countless online repetition. My final conclusion is that I don't know. It did feel quite jarring a lot of the time and often  broke the immersion. But maybe that was intentional?

In any case, I think that the translation was a bit subpar, featuring dangling modifiers and comma splices a lot. Again, maybe that's just the author's style, but I'd be willing to bet it's the translation. 

Overall I have mixed feelings on this book. It was easy to read and engaging, plus I learnt a lot, but the prose just felt disconnected at times in a way that I can't really explain. Still, a very solid book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Rape, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Drug abuse

w0rldofab00kw0rm's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book shines a historic light on the position of women that were 'different' compared to the norm at that time. It is troubling to read how easy you were marked as mad when not complying to the picture of normal.

With this book, I expected to get more of a story about Dr. Charcot, his practices and the ball. Sadly, I felt like these events could be written in more detail. They feel a bit as a side story to me. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Self harm and Rape

teainthelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Mental illness

Moderate: Rape

niamhdee's review against another edition

informative sad slow-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

bethhreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

🎵“But no one likes a mad woman

What a shame she went mad

You made her like that”🎵 ~Taylor Swift, Mad Woman

Yes I thought of the above quoted song as I read this book 😂 I was pulled in right away and didn’t want to put it down! Loved the writing style- it’s written in third person and focuses on 3 women’s experiences/inner thoughts. 

Due to the length of the novel, it was a short and quick read! The characters are well developed and have their own unique voice. Given the setting, the story is dark and heart wrenching but has a small glimmer of hope by the end.

Overall it was an interesting exploration of feminism and spiritualism in 1800s Paris! My only “complaint” was I wish the book was longer.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Misogyny

Moderate: Incest, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Pedophilia

Minor: Child death and Suicide attempt

emilunax's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, and Alcohol

forgottenangstycharacter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Sexual assault