Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father by Augusten Burroughs

10 reviews

ketamineio's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

this book made me want to throw up . it was like reading about my own dad. i hope Burroughs is doing far far better now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

4sas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Stalking

pantswithpockets's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

If you’re not listening to the audiobook, you’re severely missing out. Read by the author and featuring songs made specifically for the book, this deeply shocking and sad novel resonates deeper when you can hear the pain in Augustin’s voice as he recalls his darkest and likely most painful memories. Not for the faint of heart, and hard to read at many points, A Wolf At The Table is beautifully written and shows more serious side of Burroughs’ writing style that doesn’t lean on his classic humor, and shines a light on the excruciating and terrifying abuse he faced in his childhood.

TW: Abuse, graphic description of SA in chapter 18, alcohol abuse, mental manipulation, possibly implied CSA, general terror, fear, and homicide mentions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

renzbenz9999's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Chronic illness, Rape, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

samlaffey's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting

teslacannon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.75

I read reviews complaining this book isn’t funny. Anyone who expected “a memoir of psychological cruelty” to be humorous has clearly never lived with an abusive, domineering presence looming over their lives. I listened to the audiobook, and Augusten reads it in a poetic, musical way whenever not speaking dialogue. This book was hard to face at parts, with the rape, mind games, and I especially struggled getting past all of the animal abuse. It starts early and sets the tone. I’ve never read Running with Scissors, but I don’t know that I want to be exposed to more of his trauma filled memories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Rape

ellet1210's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Child abuse

enchantedtoreadyou's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This was a great reread. I read the physical book years ago and was rocked by the things Augusten had to go through. Now as an adult with a four year old child it hit me even harder.
I read the audio this go round and l Think it made it that much more impactful. The original songs really brought the story to life in the best and worst possible way. The sounds and music were some of the best I’ve heard in an audio. If you feel you can handle the triggers, definitely give this audio a try. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Rape

ldaffy's review against another edition

Dark. Psychological abuse. Horrid father.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

v171's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

I have read several books by the author in the past, and have really enjoyed his work. I knew his talent lay in memoirs, and I had heard that this was slight deviation from his other works. That didn't prepare me for this utterly shocking recollection of a childhood filled with trauma and horror. I can't image the sheer terror that Burroughs dealt with every day in his most formative years, and how he pushed through the difficulties that obviously followed him into adulthood. It was heartbreaking but very powerful in the way that the stories were constructed. I didn't walk away from this book with feelings of anger or horror. Just a profound sadness for the love that Burroughs was deprived. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Minor: Chronic illness, Gun violence, and Car accident