Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

242 reviews

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, and Blood

The first story, The Husband Stitch, has depictions of underage sex; the second story, Inventory, also describes sexual interactions between minors. Inventory and Mothers depict relationships with questionable age gaps.

mimsyweretheborogoves's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

Minor: Lesbophobia

ruthbreakher's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

The book is confusing at times, but maybe I just need to read this like I'm a engl 302 teacher

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

micklesreads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

These are excellent stories, but I often found myself thinking they felt too long. Major TW for trauma and sexual assault. Though there isn't any explicitly described, the effects are all through the pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

k8we's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content

erinbarton's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.5

fave stories: eight bites, the husband stitch, inventory 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I wasn't sure what to expect of this, but I loved it. Some stories were stronger/better than others but each one was still enjoyable. The Husband Stitch, Inventory, and Eight Bites were probably my favorites out of all of them. Some stories were a little more confusing for me to understand and wrap my head around though. I feel like I'd have to reread them to fully understand.
There are some things I would say to check content warnings on, but if you are an avid reader of horror/thrillers it's nothing too unpleasant or unbearable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism, Vomit, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

servane's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit

alyssathorn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

samdalefox's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I'm a big fan of short stories. Especially dark surrealist feminist ones. Carmen Maria Machado ticks all of these boxes and more. Her brand of unsettling horror reminds me a bit of 'The Dominant Animal' by Kathryn Scanlan, though Machado has more fleshed out stories and a greater breadth of narrative. I particularly enjoyed the bisexual/lesbian representation, and many of her stories were painfully personally relatable in how society (especially men) access and control women's bodies.

There were a couple of stories I don't think I really understood (Mothers and Difficult at parties), but I thought were good nonetheless. Contrary to most other peoples' reviews, I loved 'Especially Henious'! I found it worked well by reading through it very quickly, so you absorb everything all at once, rather than reflecting on each tiny individual entry. Like binge watching TV. My overall rating is an average taken from individual ratings, listed below. 

The four stories I rated the highest are probably notable in that they had less explicit sexual content. This may be a personal preference in where I'm at mentally now, but I'd also offer a small critique on this point. Although the sexually explicit content clearly serves a purpose in describing these acts of/against/to women and their bodies, I would like to see some attention given to women and their bodies beyond the sexual and reproductive. How else are they and their bodies exploited for labour or pleasure? How else are women maimed/limited e.g. through hyper-feminity such as false nails and long hair? How about a story about an asexual woman, is she seen as invisible because explicity because she is not sexual? (Thinking of 'Real women have bodies'). Overall, I'd recommend to feminists, LGBTQIA+, and fans of the disturbing short stories genre. 

The husband stitch 3.5⭐️
Inventory 4⭐️
Mothers 3⭐️
Especially heinous 4.5⭐️
Real women have bodies 4⭐️
Eight bites 4⭐️
The resident 4.5⭐️
Difficult at parties 3⭐️
=3.81 average 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Lesbophobia