Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison

19 reviews

katrinarose's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

Extremely bleak and tough read but I could not put it down. I loved the character of the unnamed midwife and the how well the author also developed even minor characters as they appeared. I also like the alternating style of her journal and omnipresent narrative. I was taken aback at first when we learned about characters and events that the midwife did not know about but it was satisfying (although sad). I like that the author didn’t shy away from the brutal realities of this post-apocalyptic world, and didn’t sugarcoat her view of human nature, as depressing as it was. This book is definitely not for everyone (between the triggering content, narrative style, and somewhat bare plot) but I really liked it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Blood, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Pedophilia, Rape, Murder, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Homophobia, Infertility, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, and Sexual content

Moderate: Abortion, Grief, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

hngisreading's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Murder, Slavery, Grief, Miscarriage, Medical content, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gun violence, Death, Physical abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Violence, Pedophilia, and Trafficking

kat1105's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Confinement, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit

batcaves's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Trafficking

shontellereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

 Really enjoyed this, so bleak and depressing but so so so good. Check the TWs!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Slavery, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Gore, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Infertility

accovino's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

This was A LOT to read during a pandemic. The idea that no one is coming to save you, we save each other or we kill each other, is so hard to read. The work of building society over again, of trusting when there is no reason to trust, of working for a future you'll never see even if you succeed… Yeah I'm having a lot of feelings about it right now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, and Trafficking

Minor: Abortion, Vomit, and Suicide

shannonsacoman's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Slavery

Moderate: Trafficking, Suicide, and Pedophilia

forrestefires's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

1.0

This was not at all a light read. While I don't think anything in this book couldn't or wouldn't happen, due to the graphic nature of the stories, I won't recommend this one. A book can be award-winning and, at the same time, not universally laudable. As the content was personally disturbing, I do not plan on continuing the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Slavery

dianaboe's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Death and Miscarriage

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse