Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

32 reviews

mikah_wazowski's review against another edition

sad

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Pedophilia, Death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Excrement, and Rape

bethaniethebeast's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

Miranda Cowley Heller is an excellent writer, but sometimes this book was "prose-y" to the point of reminding me that I'm reading a book. I don't like the characters but I understand them and relate to them. This book does an excellent job of exploring generational trauma, but I have to say HUGE trigger warning for child abuse and SA, that fully caught me off guard. Overall was an interesting read and I recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Child death, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

lindsayhotrod's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Infidelity, Incest, and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Child death, and Classism

Minor: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Dementia, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Body shaming

bowenlacar's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Dementia, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Terminal illness

dorsetreader's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Cancer, Grief, Bullying, and Miscarriage

taynicole2698's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

This book is intense, but it’s real. It doesnt feel like fiction. I didn’t love the way she ended it, but I get it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Body shaming, and Bullying

daniella17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Bullying, Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Friends, it feels SO GOOD to be back and reading. And what a title to kick off my post-term reading with.

THE PAPER PALACE is sneaky -- I see the Cape and I think immediately 'beach read,' but what Heller has crafted instead is a layered (heavier) story of time and regret and love and longing. I am not as interested in literature that claims a moral high ground as I am in narratives that allow the characters to just 'be,' and I think Heller captures so well the reason why: trauma complicates absolutes, what is 'right' and 'wrong' blurred in response to abuse. I just want to give Elle a hug.

Heller also beautifully depicts Cape Cod as a vessel for memory. She said in a recent interview that "every time [she comes] back, it feels like the opposite of homesickness," and goodness, I can relate. It's a testament to her writing that the setting -- this 'Paper Palace' -- feels like another character.

One I'm happy to own. If you grab it too, please note a significant content warning for rape and pedophilia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, and Child death

Minor: Excrement, Animal death, and Cancer

chelsea_schultz's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Grief, and Sexual assault

kiwiknitter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Bullying, Rape, and Sexual violence