Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

5 reviews

mmayern's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Car accident, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Colonisation, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Sexism

emily_koopmann's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective tense

• Loveable characters? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Hate crime

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Car accident, Sexism, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.75

As a history major, the title of this book piqued my interest. I didn’t realize it was a collection of short stories + a novella until after I purchased it.

 

 

Plot:

N/A

 

Characters:

All of Evans’ characters seem rather blank, as though they are floating through life passively. I think this was on purpose, and it is rather unsettling. None of them asked to be born into the messed-up world in which they live, but the past haunts them nonetheless.

 

Setting:

N/A

 

Themes:

Evans explores themes of loss, racism, and (obviously) history/the past. Her commentary is subtle but powerful. Every story is filled with pain.

 

Writing Style:

Evans is an excellent writer. I don’t really know how to describe it. Her style isn’t particularly distinctive, but it flows well and allows for the themes to seep through. She certainly comes up with creative ideas for her stories.

 

Conclusion:

The Office of Historical Corrections is well-written and powerful. Unfortunately, I did not give it the time it deserved simply because I didn’t want to spend my time with something so sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Murder, Infidelity, and Drug use

Minor: Mass/school shootings

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

- Every single story in this collection feels like it could be its own novel, and yet somehow I am not left wanting more from any of them - they are all perfectly self-contained.
- Some feel ripped from modern headlines (Boys Go to Jupiter) and some are steeped in family history (Alcatraz) but every one feels populated with real people and real history.
- And when everyone tells you the novella that closes this book is phenomenal, everyone is right - holy cats, wow! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

callmeamelia's review against another edition

Frustrated and bored by the storytelling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Racism, and Toxic relationship