Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Dawn by Octavia E. Butler

14 reviews

salemander's review against another edition

5.0

ahhhh this book made me feel so weird octavia butler you’ve done it again 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Violence, War, Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gore, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Medical content

30something_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

 I am at an utter loss for words. This was incredible. It was deeply unsettling. I couldn't sleep last night.

I'm so torn between wanting to pick up the next book immediately but also needing 2-3 business days to process everything that happened. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Violence

Minor: Cursing, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and War

peachani's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, and Confinement

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gore, Cancer, Murder, Hate crime, Medical trauma, and Medical content

Minor: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Kidnapping, Grief, and Sexual assault

monstrouscosmos's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Characters: 7.5/10
Relationships: 3/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 6.5/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Plot/Intrigue: 7/10
Internal Logic: 9/10
Entertainment: 3/10
Overall: 45/70, 3.25* 

I read this for a challenge prompt, and chose it because I've struggled with other things I've read/listened to by Butler. while I'm glad I made it through and am grateful for the experience overall: this just wasn't something I could enjoy. I know that's kind of the point, so I'm glad I chose to listen to this when I knew I'd have the emotional bandwidth for it. 

I listened to the Book 2 preview at the end and won't be continuing in the series, but I understand why it's so popular! it's just not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Medical content, Blood, Murder, Body horror, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and War

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Incest

tungstenmouse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book is very heavy and shoves the worst traits of humanity in your face at times. I'd like to say it still gave me hope but then Butler came in behind me and crushed that hope. However, the narrative is effective and the storytelling is good. I found it all strangely believable despite its bleakness. Even the main character has unlikable traits and I appreciated that for its reality. I also appreciated how imaginative the idea of the aliens were. Very different from your standard Star Wars/Trek aliens. Also, I appreciated the allegory of the Slave Trade. 

Overall, I'd say this is worth the read but just be ready to be hurt. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexism, Slavery, Sexual violence, Body horror, Drug use, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Toxic relationship, Murder, Homophobia, Death, and Blood

meant2breading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Very odd and thought provoking, but in a good way!! 

This was my first time really reading a book like this and from this author. Dawn was seriously fascinating, yet horrifying. Octavia certainly has you dive right in. With books I’ve read lately, I feel like it takes time to get going, but WHAM! You are right in there moving and I was captivated from start to finish. 

I read this a few weeks ago, and I am still sitting with how the author makes us think and feel about gender, reproduction, discrimination (multiple TWs), western medicine, societal norms, nature, etc. I’m sure my wheels will be spinning on this for a while, even after I dive into the next one(s)…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Murder and Sexual violence

miraclesnow's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book is made to be messy. As someone with a cursory interest in ethics, Octavia Butler made the Oankali truly alien in ways that go beyond their exteriors, while still feeling like sentient individuals. Nothing about this book is simple and it’s such a good way of making you think about not very common topics. I feel like I’m in knots just trying to parse everything that happened. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Gaslighting, Murder, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Infertility, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: War, Child death, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Car accident

Minor: Cancer

liormaleficent's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Drug use, Cancer, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Death, Sexual violence, Genocide, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Suicide, and Confinement

queenclio's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I adored this book! Butler's worldbuilding is phenomenal and thought-provoking. She puts her characters in challenging situations that keep me pondering long after I've put it down

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, and Confinement

Minor: Rape and Child death

blazingquill's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

This is a disturbing read that creates a horrific story about breaches in consent and the abuse of colonization. It asks the question, “what are you able to do when you’re helpless?” then weaves a complex answer considering love, hate, and resistance. It’s a story that could not have come from another author, and I think is an important read. 

That being said, despite its discussion of gender, it maintains a very cis and straight perspective throughout, which effected my reading of the book. There is also a very complex relationship that edges into both abuse and pedophilia that I think was intended to be read as disturbing but I know could be interpreted differently. Heavy content warnings as well for: nonconsensual procedures, noncon relationships, rape, forced sterilization, and sensory deprivation torture.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Rape, Xenophobia, Cancer, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, Violence, and Cancer

Minor: Genocide, Incest, War, Child death, Car accident, Infertility, and Torture