Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

164 reviews

laurenmtownson's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Heavy in a way that makes you feel bad but very thought provoking and beautiful 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder

sunshine_sophia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It has taken some time to compile my thoughts on this book, and I am not entirely sure if I will be able to articulate them well enough in this review.

This book made me very emotional. It was a rollercoaster of emotion. From anger to sadness to heartbreak, and grief, this book touches on many emotions. As an emotional girlie myself, I felt them all to a large degree.

I am not an advocate for the death penalty. My thoughts are: if we as a society believe murder and homicide are bad, why do we punish someone who committed those crimes with the same fate as their victims? It has always felt backward and inhumane to me. I felt torn between wanting Ansel to die via lethal injection or staying in prison for the rest of his life. I was especially sympathetic when

Saffy confronted him after he killed Jenny. When she asked him why he took the trinkets from the girls he killed, and he responded, "to keep me safe" my heart SHATTERED. That what is mother told him with the locket she had given him as a boy.

I am not trying to glorify serial killers by feeling sympathy towards him in this moment, I am simply reflecting on the trauma that he experienced as a child, and how he carried that with him through his entire life.

It was also interesting seeing the juxtaposition of Saffy and Ansel - they both had traumatic childhoods, grew up in the foster system, and lived in the same foster home for some time. While Saffy still carried her trauma with her, she was able to mobilize and become a functioning member of society as a member of law enforcement.

This was a heartbreaking, raw, and brilliant story of trauma, and showcases the flaws within the criminal justice system.

As someone who got psychology and criminology degrees in college, I am fascinated by the why. Why do people do what they do? Why do people commit crimes? Why do people kill? This book taught me that there may not always be a why, sometimes things just are because of a plethora of decisions, biology, and countless other factors. There is no cut-and-dry reason why people do what they do. There are countless possibilities and reasons for everything. 

Overall, while this book made me emotional, it was a brilliant dive into the way we view serial killers, the families impacted, the criminal justice system, law enforcement, and so much more. This book made me think and reconsider, which as a Gemini, I always appreciate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Animal death

Moderate: Gore and Blood

maggiemcfly's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I had really high expectations for this book and was worried it would disappoint, but it was just amazing! The writing, the storytelling, the characters - can’t wait for the adaptation!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexism and Stalking

laurataylor's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Blood, Death, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Body horror

atomicsushi's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Abandonment and Domestic abuse

Minor: Animal death and Child abuse

thebookishbunny's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Murder, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Animal cruelty

scifi_rat's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Stalking, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, Murder, Animal cruelty, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Police brutality, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

baileyanabella's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

5.0

Absolutely stunning writing by Danya Kukafka. What could have been an incredibly confusing mixture of stories from the perspective of four different people in completely different time frames, were masterfully written and intertwined with one another. You begin the story knowing its ending, but the ride there with the characters is what keeps you in your seat. Also features a diverse cast, including POC and LGBTQQ+ main characters. Their representation never feels forced, it is intrinsically involved in the plot and their personal development. I ate this up, and I can't think of anything I didn't like about it. Kukafka doesn't miss a beat!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

Maybe to no one's surprise because of the title, but there is a detailed first-person description of an execution, of the desire to stay alive but being forced to die. I've never read anything like it, so it's something to be aware of when going in. Ansel is pathetic and dies pathetically.

meemawreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

3.5

I appreciate, like most readers, that we got to know a serial killer outside a romanticized lens, instead seeing him through the eyes of the women he knew. It doesn't keep it from being a huge bummer sandwich, but at least we don't have to listen to another author proclaiming the "evil genius" of another murderer. It reminds the reader that everyone involved is a multifaceted human, critiques the criminal justice system, and shows us the effects of generational trauma, all without being too heavy-handed.

Probably my favorite part is Ansel's escape plot failing, showing that this guy is less "pure evil" than completely swept up in the delusion of deep misogyny.

Ansel isn't an idiot, he truly thinks he's worth more than these women and that belief didn't come out of nowhere. Four taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Abandonment

luisaoropeza83's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Where the book starts at the end outcome and then goes back into what happened to the missing girls was refreshing. There was no initial mystery, but more of following the crimes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Abandonment