Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

6 reviews

jayjm94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

It’s a beautifully written, emotional novel about love, marriage, family, violence and a very old beach home. I read it in about 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down from the first line. With that said the plot is winding, tense, and brutal at times. I never felt like the upsetting scenes were overwrought though. The main character is flawed and makes a series of choices throughout the novel that ultimately come to make perfect sense. The ending is ambiguous, but I enjoyed it and felt it was earned.  To read this book in a beach house or even on a lake would be divine. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Ableism, Blood, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, and Misogyny

Moderate: Incest, Child abuse, Child death, and Cursing

Minor: Mental illness and Murder

sweetchocolatez's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Infidelity, Grief, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Incest, Fatphobia, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Misogyny, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Cancer and Chronic illness

Minor: Abortion and Adult/minor relationship

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

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

notionsofdragonsfire's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

aaronm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Child abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Sexism, and Sexual content