Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

71 reviews

theromanticace's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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saltydough's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The narrative structure of this book is super weird, and I wasn't aware of that beforehand. Needless to say, it took me aback. I really enjoyed the criticism of the stories we tell ourselves contained within the book, and the second section captured my attention completely. I can't say the same of the third act, which I believe should not have been included in the book at all. The prose was beautifully original, and I don't think I've ever come across any author who can express the grotesque experience of receiving unwanted attentions from a creepy man as well as Choi. 
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birthdaycake's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book is so extremely weird. I have no idea if I loved it or hated it, so I'm giving it three stars. This is one of those books that made me feel feverish/slightly ill as I was reading it. It felt very smart to me, but it also kept me at a distance. (maybe the point???) I didn't feel close or connected to the characters. But I did feel the strong NEED to discuss it as soon as I finished it. 
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knkoch's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a powerful and intense book. It’s sharp and prickly and challenged me- to think harder, more critically, to pick sides and change allegiances. This story doesn’t spell everything out, and I’m sure it will be spinning in my mind for a while to come.
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fionac326's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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avocado0442's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this book fucked me up so badly...there are so many layers to unpeel & even after finishing it, it's hard to pull everything apart because all of the threads are so densely packed both onto and into each other. will definitely reread in the future!

on another note, i really enjoyed susan's choi style and writing. it is so detached but raw at the same time.
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meganm's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the best books I've read in years. 
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deusbexmachina's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow wow wow wow. I devoured this book and can't stop thinking about it. I won't spoil it (especially because doing so would require so much explanation and summary). But I do think the book is brilliantly constructed. The core themes are trust, believability, and accountability, particularly in regards to sexual assault. As a reader, you know that horrific things have happened to the main characters; they have been mistreated and taken advantage of. But the exact nature of what happened to them is up for debate, called into question again and again throughout the book, so you're forced to interrogate the survivors' accounts, rather than their abusers. It feels ugly, and I think that's Susan Choi's point. Okay, one spoiler:
I would say that Martin most definitely does not get off the hook for his actions, even though retribution comes late. But Mr. Kingsley/Mr. Lord? He dies without repercussion. However, their actions deeply impact Karen (who carries so much anger), Claire (who will never know her parents), and Sarah (who needs to distance herself through fiction), and their suffering is largely invisible.
I know why this book is polarizing, but I can't wait to talk about it with everyone.
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assimbya's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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annavonwillingh's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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