Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

7 reviews

rachelmcg2004's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Bullying, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Classism, Physical abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: War, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Medical content, Vomit, and Violence

Minor: Kidnapping and Infidelity

sas_ram's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

I don't know what I expected. But after hearing so many praises about Margaret Atwood I was looking forward to it. I can't seem to like her humour though. I also detested Penelope as a main character. The plot is also flat (yes I'm aware that is based on mythology). I also didn't like the modern elements, the narration structure...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Murder, Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: War

meg_elyse's review against another edition

informative reflective sad fast-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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Blood, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, and Misogyny

Minor: War, Rape, Abandonment, Grief, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse

azalia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Sexual violence

Minor: Toxic relationship, War, Emotional abuse, Gore, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Torture

alix_the_book_witch's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

akira_outofthegravity's review

emotional funny informative sad fast-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

3.75

A retelling of the Iliad from Penelope’s view. What starts as a very interesting and insightful view into life of such a unique character unfortunately comes to a halt once the story of the Iliad takes place. It starts out very promising, but slowly becomes Penelope’s maid’s story. Which is fine I guess, but it becomes a jumble of things and comes to an unsatisfying end. Shame, because the first half/first two thirds are really impactful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship

readerette's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I found some of the literary devices confusing, like mixing in the maids singing and performing. However, the whole concept is quite creative and compelling, and I love stories that take the viewpoints of supporting characters. It reminds me of Madeline Miller's works (Circe, Song of Achilles), but more abstract, and perhaps darker. It also leaves holes, still, in the story of Penelope and Odysseus--this is not a book of answers, but one of questioning what is "known", of offering another way of thinking about Odysseus and Penelope and her maids, or maybe even more than one way. I was never quite certain I was getting the whole truth from Penelope, or if she as a character knew the whole truth, herself. It made it difficult to put the book down!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Death, Violence, Sexism, and Slavery

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Rape