Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

83 reviews

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

kdenten's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Sexual content, Blood, Cancer, and Child death

katiemack's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2022: Read any book from the Women’s Prize shortlist/longlist/winner list 

I can't give this a rating because I'm still conflicted re: what I think about it.

On one hand, I admire Miranda Cowley Heller's ability to establish a strong sense of place and immerse her reader in the environments she creates. It was hard for me to put the book down because I wanted to keep learning about the characters and their dramatic history that's tied to these different settings. On the other hand, I hate when authors use rape as an unrelenting plot point (see: Outlander, GoT). Also, even though the narrative itself is gripping, I hated the characters most of the time. I'm not against reading about dirtbags, but dirtbags who can't communicate and who make confusing decisions are just annoying.

Hopefully I'll have a more solid rating and more to say about this book after my book club meets...but, until then, enjoy my confusing web of thoughts! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Emotional abuse

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

bail33's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Incest, Murder, Infidelity, Grief, Death, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Cancer

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Misogyny

notbrhymes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

3.0

I don’t know. The beginning was hard to get into. I was confused by choices made throughout most of the book. The ending was incredibly abrupt and semi ambiguous. I don’t like the cheating and lying that are constant throughout this novel, as well as the horribly sad recounting of CSA. But also I found the writing compelling (more so after the flashbacks, didn’t like those even though they did add to the narrative) and the story interesting as well. I just don’t know! 

Also, I think there should have been massive warning for the extreme levels of child sexual assault (CSA) depicted in this story. I had no idea that was where this was going when I started this book and it completely shocked me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual content, Death, Child abuse, Cancer, Child death, Rape, Animal death, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Dementia, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

izbizedgerton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

Ok so like this book is HEAVY, but I’m really glad I read it. It’s forced me out of my comfort zone and I had to think a lot about what makes me like, dislike, or feel meh about a character. The ending was EXACTLY what I wanted! It felt right and important. After the second book, it picked up and I started REALLY caring about what the characters thought and felt. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

I enjoyed this book, though content warnings should be issued for the middle section in which there are graphic depictions of sa, r*pe, and in*est.

awestervelt20's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Rape, and Stalking

rapidtra5h's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Misogyny, Infidelity, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Death, and Child death