Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

25 reviews

daybreakreads'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? No

1.0

Why do I listen to coworkers’ book recs before looking up a book? I have a Criminology degree that’s collecting dust, and despite my distaste for many women’s obsession with true crime (in the sense it has made close friends and family anxious and paranoid about living in a ground floor apartment, in addition to it glamorizing or romanticizing the worst aspects of humanity) I found the concept intriguing. Ah yes, here is a novel that supposedly focuses on the real human effect of heinous crimes, rather than obsessing over the monster that committed them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Dementia

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Rape, and Medical trauma

Minor: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

achay91's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Death, Murder, Sexism, Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Incest, Death of parent, and Homophobia

pastlifetragedy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Religious bigotry, Stalking, Infidelity, and Pedophilia

david_slack110507's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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

4.25

I was really intrigued by the premise of the book and what it was going to follow and I'm glad that it did not disappoint and was just as interesting as what was promised. I really liked having the dual timelines of Pamela and Ruth, with Pamela's following on from a huge event and leading up to its eventual consequences while Ruth's was leading up to a fate that seemingly had nothing to do with her own story but we knew was going to happen regardless.  

I think having Ruth's story be something completely detached from the Ted Bundy-inspired serial killer plotline of Pamela's story made Ruth's ending all the more effective as it showcased what could happen at any moment, especially when your life is beginning to get better, but I also just really liked Ruth's story due to its focus on the acceptance of who you are and freeing yourself from the judgement of others as shown in Ruth's discovery of her sexuality when she meets and eventually falls in love with Tina. However, as much as I like Ruth's story, I think I was more invested in Pamela's search for justice against the man that had wronged her sorority house, as not only was it what the premise of the book but also because it just intrigued me more seeing the situation unfold and how that can be compared in many similar and different ways to now. 

Both storylines help present the theme of needing to put women's stories and experiences to the forefront of situations like the one in this book and its aforementioned inspiration rather than putting all the attention and sadly oftentimes subsequent idolisation on the perpetrator of horrible and sickening crimes. Keeping the perpetrator's name hidden under the nickname 'The Defendant' not only avoided giving power to the serial killer that it was based on but also allowed for it to be unilateral in not giving power to all those who have committed terrible acts of violence and violation and instead keeping the women in the spotlight when they are so often ignored even when they are front and centre like with Pamela as a witness or The Defendant's female attorney being the smartest on his team. 

I feel like this is just a really important book to read that has many important messages just beyond the criminal and legal aspects mentioned in this review and in the book, such as social issues like the way that lesbians and queer people were seen around that time, the lack of faith in women and their stories/beliefs, and I also liked how it commented on the seemingly necessary need to characterise every man that avoided the legal system due to said lack of faith in women and/or their privilege as being 'smart', essentially acting as an excuse to cover up the incompetence in the police and justice systems for letting it go on for so long. 

Overall, this raises many important questions and focuses on many necessary themes that should be discussed in more detail as well as striking a careful balance between not making it too explicit without making it seem watered down to make it easier to digest. It does not shy away from the explicit nature of the case but is not defined by having it as part of the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Sexual violence, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gore, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Dementia, Medical content, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Pedophilia

mnm43's review against another edition

Too violent

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Medical trauma and Rape

shacara_shacara's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Violence, Rape, Body shaming, Torture, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse

shesflippinpages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, Homophobia, Grief, Sexism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence

Minor: Dementia and Classism

jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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? No

5.0

Holy. Shit. This book is incredible. Its thoughtful, devastating, but also hopeful. Its so well written and an important read if youre interested in feminism and true crime. Check the content warnings before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma

Minor: Incest

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Fascinating yet sickening, this book is like a derailed train…you just can’t help but to keep looking even when you feel like you should turn away. The plot of the story is unbelievable on purpose, because who ever thinks they’re going to be attacked by a serial killer. I liked the two different perspectives but found the shifting timeline confusing from time to time and I had to check the chapter heading and make sure I knew where I was in time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Murder, Sexual violence, Torture, Child abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Stalking, Violence, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault

cinnaminskies's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Forced institutionalization, and Misogyny

Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, and Pandemic/Epidemic