Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

7 reviews

brynalexa's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Here’s the thing: I can tell this is a wonderful book, but I just couldn’t pay attention. The characters did not click for me, and the structure was difficult to understand via audiobook. I also think, half of the middle section could have been cut out. 

The setting was vivid and complex, the characters, diverse, and the plot mysterious. But overall, not for me. 

I wouldn’t say no to trying it again in print, we will see. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

chelly_reads's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

clairefb92's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Cannibalism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

rnbhargava's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book has a fantastic story that has you see the narrative of the story from a multitude of points of view but honestly it doesn’t get confusing. There’s even points where you recontextualize earlier points in the story where things weren’t exactly what you thought they were.
This is honestly one of my favorite reads in years. I now need to find Simon Jimenez’s first novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

The layering of potential triggers is heavy in this book. There are figures that are dead/potentially dead. There are figures that are mixed with animal appearance. There’s cannibalism. There’s borderline self loathing/coming to grips with being homosexual. There are points where characters are in each other’s heads. The villains are brutal and unforgiving. Even some of the supporting characters aren’t fully trustworthy at points. This book’s narrative is intense.

selenatothemax's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gore, Incest, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, War

2treads's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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"This place, which lies between your world and the next, is the theater where stories like yours are told" — This moonlit body

Jimenez's The Spear Cuts Through Water is a testament and tribute to oral storytelling and all its complexities. This story incorporates the grandness that lies within a tale being told to the reader and main character alike. Where animals have central roles and play their part in pushing the plot forward and even the smallest character has their own time on the page leaving a mark in the weaving of a sweeping tapestry.

In a land where power and fear is used to secure a kingdom and tribute, a one-armed warrior is swept up in the theatre of betrayal, murder, escape, and rebellion. 

I do believe I would have struggled to read this physically, not being able to give another book any attention, but the narrator infuses the story and each character with such control and animation that the listening experience unfolded like a play. I could pick out the influences of puppet shows, stage work, word of mouth retellings, familial memory and recall.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder

Minor: Classism