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Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'
Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
34 reviews
bobisthecoolest's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? N/A
4.0
This is a weird book to rate. It’s an interesting concept and it was written well, but it feels like it could have been something more. It’s good, but it could have easily been great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
addy_books's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Drug use
portapages's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this book starts off as a relatively easy, simple read. it's easy to get absorbed and follow the flow of the stories. i loved being with all these different characters in their cold, little towns.
but as the stories go on, things get harder, darker, and more and more intertwined. before i finished the last story, the book sat at a 3.25 for me. the stories were great, but not all were particularly moving.
the final story however, truly broke my heart, and wrapped up all the ways these characters were serendipitously related in such a moving way.
it was a beautiful read, and I'm glad i stuck through to the end.
but as the stories go on, things get harder, darker, and more and more intertwined. before i finished the last story, the book sat at a 3.25 for me. the stories were great, but not all were particularly moving.
the final story however, truly broke my heart, and wrapped up all the ways these characters were serendipitously related in such a moving way.
it was a beautiful read, and I'm glad i stuck through to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Pedophilia
Minor: Drug abuse and Addiction
kwarnimont's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
I really loved this short story collection. Seeing everyone's lives all tangled together, not understanding something about someone but uncovering the truth later with someone else - it's another reminder that we're all connected and we can all use some grace from one another. Also DANG it was just really heart breaking. I am single.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
elinordashwood's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
julianunesp's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
best read of the year so far, absolutely taken away by this. want to write a full review soon.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Grief
nickoliver's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a collection of short stories, but ones that were interconnected with each other in one way or another. For example, one story would be about a girl, and then the next about her sister. Or her best friend. And there were certain characters that were focal points in some stories and mentioned in passing in others. I listened to this on audiobook, and I think I might've seen the connections a bit more closely if I'd read it physically, just because I wasn't always 100% conscious of the characters' names. However, I really did like the way the stories were interwoven! It made it a lot more interesting, tbh.
I really enjoyed Hitchcock's writing and got really invested in the characters' lives. I did, in some stories, wish I got a bit of a satisfying ending, but I also knew that it wasn't unusual for short stories to not offer that, so it didn't make me mad or annoyed or anything. I definitely want to read more by this author! I would advise you to check out the trigger warnings before going into the book, though. There was a lot about sexual abuse of children in some stories, particularly sexual abuse by religious leaders.
I really enjoyed Hitchcock's writing and got really invested in the characters' lives. I did, in some stories, wish I got a bit of a satisfying ending, but I also knew that it wasn't unusual for short stories to not offer that, so it didn't make me mad or annoyed or anything. I definitely want to read more by this author! I would advise you to check out the trigger warnings before going into the book, though. There was a lot about sexual abuse of children in some stories, particularly sexual abuse by religious leaders.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, and Murder
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, and Homophobia
juliezantopoulos's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I adore Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock's The Smell of Other People's Houses and this book felt a lot like a love letter to that novel. I don't think it tied together the storylines quite as well as Other People's Houses did, though. I saw the threads, but there were SO many characters that keeping everything straight for really difficult. Still, the stories held up on their own beautifully.
There was a content warning at the start of the book, but frankly, I'm not sure it was enough. It says:
"One of the many story strands in this novel is connected to sexual abuse (not graphic), which may be a sensitive issue for some readers."
I'm not sure how "non-graphic" it is. It's not necessarily off screen and is told in a way that the reader feels very present during the abuse. I will also say that the book covers the loss of a sibling, abduction, trauma, grief, cheating, and sexual abuse of children by adults (specifically clergy).
There was a content warning at the start of the book, but frankly, I'm not sure it was enough. It says:
"One of the many story strands in this novel is connected to sexual abuse (not graphic), which may be a sensitive issue for some readers."
I'm not sure how "non-graphic" it is. It's not necessarily off screen and is told in a way that the reader feels very present during the abuse. I will also say that the book covers the loss of a sibling, abduction, trauma, grief, cheating, and sexual abuse of children by adults (specifically clergy).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
Minor: Addiction and Excrement
rockatanskette's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Drug use
ainsya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
"In a small town you are forever defined by the worst thing that happened to you."
Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town is a collection of short stories that follows a varied group of teen characters in small towns throughout the American West and Northwest. The book explores the concept of death in many different ways, beyond the literal sense of it like the death of innocence, childhood, memories, of love and of hope. It was unexpected but in a beautiful way.
Typically I don't tend to gravitate towards short stories as I always end up feeling like I'm missing a lot of the backstory and what happens next. However, this book did a great job at interweaving the stories and characters into each other that it feels relatively complete and enough to satisfy me as a reader. The connections between the characters are subtle and it just goes to show the complex connection of one human being to another. How you'll never know what a big or small impact you have on another person's lives. The stories are heavily character driven and there isn't much of a huge storyline really. It's more about the human experience and a slice of life kind of book, just stuff that could be happening on any other day (which are the types of books I love to read).
I thought the offerings were pretty consistent throughout the book despite a couple weak entries. There were a few instances where I wished the stories are longer though.
My top 3 favorites were:
1. There's Gas in the Tank, Louise! "She has missed them because sisters should never leave their sisters." This one honestly deserves a book on its own. Wished it was longer so I get to spend more time with the characters. It's so emotional, left me teary eyed. This was a good one to wrap up the collection.
2. The Right Kind of People.
3. The Stranger in the Woods.
4. [Honorary mention] Parking Lot Flowers.
Side note: can we talk about Hitchcock's unmatchable, top notch book/story titles? Some of the best titles I've come across.
Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town is a collection of short stories that follows a varied group of teen characters in small towns throughout the American West and Northwest. The book explores the concept of death in many different ways, beyond the literal sense of it like the death of innocence, childhood, memories, of love and of hope. It was unexpected but in a beautiful way.
Typically I don't tend to gravitate towards short stories as I always end up feeling like I'm missing a lot of the backstory and what happens next. However, this book did a great job at interweaving the stories and characters into each other that it feels relatively complete and enough to satisfy me as a reader. The connections between the characters are subtle and it just goes to show the complex connection of one human being to another. How you'll never know what a big or small impact you have on another person's lives. The stories are heavily character driven and there isn't much of a huge storyline really. It's more about the human experience and a slice of life kind of book, just stuff that could be happening on any other day (which are the types of books I love to read).
I thought the offerings were pretty consistent throughout the book despite a couple weak entries. There were a few instances where I wished the stories are longer though.
My top 3 favorites were:
1. There's Gas in the Tank, Louise! "She has missed them because sisters should never leave their sisters." This one honestly deserves a book on its own. Wished it was longer so I get to spend more time with the characters. It's so emotional, left me teary eyed. This was a good one to wrap up the collection.
2. The Right Kind of People.
3. The Stranger in the Woods.
4. [Honorary mention] Parking Lot Flowers.
Side note: can we talk about Hitchcock's unmatchable, top notch book/story titles? Some of the best titles I've come across.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death and Drug use