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rotatinglibrary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is dark. Like reading next to a candle stub in a hurricane dark. It’s also beautifully written. The style reminds me specifically of the Vegas chapters of The Goldfinch.
Near the climax of the book, These Violent Delights becomes almost a satire. Paul’s violence and Julian’s black moods feel contrived.
They wait for each other to make the next move, never anticipating their own. Other elements in this book do feel real, though. Paul’s sisters and their aloofness, his mother’s anxious fluttering. Julian’s loathing of his family’s wealth and status. The fury of other people just being wrong and not caring.
Can I say I liked this book? Not really. It disturbed me. It stuck in my head for days after I finished it. I don’t exactly recommend it. If you want an example of stellar writing of a festering immature relationship gone to hell, this is it.
Near the climax of the book, These Violent Delights becomes almost a satire. Paul’s violence and Julian’s black moods feel contrived.
They wait for each other to make the next move, never anticipating their own. Other elements in this book do feel real, though. Paul’s sisters and their aloofness, his mother’s anxious fluttering. Julian’s loathing of his family’s wealth and status. The fury of other people just being wrong and not caring.
Can I say I liked this book? Not really. It disturbed me. It stuck in my head for days after I finished it. I don’t exactly recommend it. If you want an example of stellar writing of a festering immature relationship gone to hell, this is it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
Other content warnings:drugging, kidnapping, stammer, injury, car accident, codependency, politics, profanitybiblioleah's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this book reads like heartache. it is a book about people who are hurting and in turn want to hurt the world for what it’s done to them. it is not a love story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
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