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wessica96's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Death
egcam's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Grief
subflower219's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death, Rape, and Pedophilia
midnightrain_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
it's strange to know that whenever I remember myself at fifteen, I'll think of this
This novel is in conversation with Nabokov's Lolita, which I quite enjoyed, especially given that the name of the novel comes from the author's 'Pale Fire'. One thing that's different from Lolita though, is that this is the perspective of the victim. The writing style manages to pull you in, while staying quite simple and accessible.
Some moments that really manage to capture my reading experience:
I wonder how much victimhood they'd be willing to grant a girl like me
The excuses we make for them are outrageous but they’re nothing compared to the ones we make for ourselves
When Strane and I met, I was fifteen and he was forty two, a near perfect thirty years between us. That’s how I described the difference back then - perfect
Because even if I sometimes use the word abuse to describe certain things that were done to me, in someone else’s mouth the word turns ugly and absolute. It swallows up everything that happened
This isn't a book that you will enjoy, mainly because your jaw might be on the ground for half of it, and if you're sensitive to the topics in it (or have experienced being groomed) then it's definitely not for you. However it is absolutely a book that helps you understand and sympathize with victims, and is an important read for people, who have never went through such trauma. Definitely check the trigger warnings beforehand though!
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Drug use, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol and Medical content
jennameyers's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Rape, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Death, and Alcoholism
matildamercury's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Violence
bookmark3brodi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicide, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
valeriaxo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Death
rebekka's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Gaslighting, Drug use, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Misogyny, Vomit, Mental illness, Grief, Death, and Cursing
loustat__'s review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Suicide, and Toxic relationship