Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

4 reviews

beansandrice's review

mysterious tense slow-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

2.5

There are some neat moments in this, but it undermines so much of Annihilation. Also, it emphasizes how much Annihilation benefited from Only Women Characters syndrome, since

wow the hetero pairing in this book is supposed to be romantic but is soooo toxic. I have yet to read Acceptance but, i doubt Vandermeer really understands how toxic this is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Misogyny

sophieamreacher's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

Utterly bizarre, I felt like I was being hypnotised myself. Really interesting plot, characters and concept. The writing was intriguing and kept me feeling disorientated like the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Cancer, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Alcohol, Abandonment, Grief, and Gun violence

bedtimesnack's review

mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Mental illness

Minor: Death of parent, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gun violence, and Cancer

moonytoast's review

adventurous dark mysterious slow-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

3.5

while i do still enjoy this series so far, i think this particular book suffers from immediately following up annihilation, which was significantly shorter and, in my opinion, much better paced. this unfolds very slowly in comparison and — even though the story was still engaging overall and the writing style retains its tone — makes it a less enjoyable experience as it begins to feel like the narrative is lagging.

all that being said: i think the dynamic between control and the biologist was really interesting as the story played out and i liked where authority picked up from its predecessor by revealing that "versions" of the expedition members (including the biologist) have returned to the outside world, throwing the reader off given the ending of annihilation. there's an understanding of the fact that this is not the same biologist we knew and experienced in the first book, but we as the reader don't fully understand how much they remember and understand what happened in area x. that element as well as the revelation of certain things about the psychologist on the previous expedition were intriguing. 

***this rating may change once i have officially finished this series

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization