Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

6 reviews

jessiehg's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

In a lot of ways it’s great
- the time cuts exploring a similar theme across generations are so close to being too obvious and trite, but there’s enough complexity and difference that they work well
- the characters verge on 1 dimensional, but they’re also not overwritten which I’m grateful for
- Elle’s motivations and the deep rippling effects of her childhood on her choices are very well done, as is the reasoning (absolution) behind the affair finally occurring
- the end will bother some, but I think it was the only option 
- I saw most things coming, but you could take that as well constricted and neat rather than obvious

There’s something here about starting in a simplistic idea of lifelong longing finally acted upon, and then simultaneously strengthening the reader’s belief in that “cosmic connection” and (through an unreliable narrator) revealing flags of the flawed, bad (but not in the way they think they are!) people who would in reality not ride off into the sunset but likely hurt each other like all partners do. Jonas is a dick to his wife, Elle is obviously coping with her mistakes and explores those things (eg lying, distance to husband). 

Once I hit about halfway I found it difficult to put down. I was deeply affected. But I didn’t LOVE it. 

This may be better on screen than on paper - what verges on flat in the book could be fleshed out with great acting.

It helped me to keep reminding myself that this is my parent’s generation, and in a lot of ways her reactions are very well written for that.

Starting this book in the affair and love triangle is indicative of the target audience. The average airport/rom com reader wants empty longing and sex as a hook to then become invested in the real story. Personally, the real story is what it took for me to give any amount of shits about the affair. An understandable and commercially wise choice, but not to my liking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Vomit, Incest, Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Cancer, Child death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Terminal illness and Animal cruelty

lbh_0327's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Death, Sexual content, Incest, and Sexual violence

Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Vomit, Alcohol, Body shaming, Drug use, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

skibbonboulash's review against another edition

slow-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

Let’s make the main characters childhood as traumatizing as possible then have a climax that is meaningless because you’re numb to trauma by then and then finish off with an underwhelming resolution and conclusion. You can tell the author writes for HBO (not a compliment)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Infertility, Death of parent, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Cancer, Bullying, Body shaming, Rape, Child abuse, Stalking, Sexual content, Murder, Classism, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Suicide

thoreaus's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective relaxing sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: Alcohol, Suicide, and Vomit

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-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

4.5

It took me about 50 pages to get into this book, but then I couldn't put it down.  I loved it and feel like this place and characters are old friends.

This book may not be for everyone.  The non-linear storyline can be confusing.  I'm not sure it would work as an audiobook.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Vomit

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Medical content, and Terminal illness

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

coralie_michon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-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

4.0

je me suis lancée dans cette lecture en pensant lire une typique histoire de triangle amoureux, d'une femme qui doit choisir entre les deux hommes les plus importants de sa vie. toutefois, ce livre est beaucoup plus qu'un simple dilemme amoureux. il raconte une histoire tragique d'une famille brisée, d'une amitié difficile, de regrets infranchissables, de choix impossibles. il s'agit d'un livre totalement cru, vrai. les descriptions d'heller mettent en vie le roman d'une manière si forte, si réelle et puissante. les mots qu'elle utilisent sont parfaitement sélectionnés pour nous faire vivre une panoplie d'émotions. il est rare que je lis un roman du point de vue d'un adulte, encore loin une mère de 3 enfants, mais je ne suis aucunement déçue. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Vomit