Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

129 reviews

thegayestghost's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

picnicatthehangingtree's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.5

A mysterious, weird, surreal read that leaves you wondering in the best way 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Minor: Alcohol

This is a very mysterious book where things are not always what they same, and the reader and narrator isn’t sure what is going on. Some things (e.g. psychosis, suicide, institutional gaslighting) could simply be that, or there could be other explanations for it.

nialiversuch's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Suicide attempt

arabellafleetwood's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Great psychological confusion. It's a bit weird in the plot. But overall, a good breath of fresh air from more mainstream books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Body horror and Toxic relationship

Minor: Gun violence and Toxic relationship

john_quixote's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

2nd read through, I enjoyed it as much as the first. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Death

Moderate: Gun violence and Terminal illness

Minor: Suicide

honeybones's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Cancer, Self harm, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

mklmy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

Minor: Cancer

emath98's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

I really enjoy a good mystery, and the unsettling nature of something only barely glimpsed and even less comprehended made for a delicious read. I’ve heard others complain about the unlikability of the main character and how many questions we are left with at the end of the book, but I think the author did both of those things intentionally and well. The alien, body horror and psychological horror

of hypnosis and government agency lies

combined in a really spooky way that did not feel too overdone. I’m excited to check out the rest of the trilogy, but would also be content with Annihilation as a stand alone story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Gun violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer

maryconney's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence and Grief

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

I have read the introduction written by Karen Joy Fowler included in this version now 3 times. The first time it was sent to me by a friend to convince me to read this book. Then again obviously when I read it. And a third time after I finished I went back and read it again, to really understand what the hell was going on! (Sometimes I just need to read analysis of something to fully comprehend it) That third time really blew my mind! WOW!

The only thing I didn't love about this was the flashback parts about the MC's life prior to the expedition. I understand they were included to build context for her relationship with her husband and why our MC even decides to go on the expedition. But they oddly went into a bit of a lit-fic-y kinda realm, which to me felt a little out of place with everything else going on. I just cared way more about what was happening on the expedition and found myself less interested in her husband in general *shrug*

I do think I will probably read the rest of this series in physical form vs doing exclusively audio to be able to follow along better!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Sexual content