Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

4 reviews

claire_de_lune92's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

This book has a fantastic story that has you see the narrative of the story from a multitude of points of view but honestly it doesn’t get confusing. There’s even points where you recontextualize earlier points in the story where things weren’t exactly what you thought they were.
This is honestly one of my favorite reads in years. I now need to find Simon Jimenez’s first novel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

The layering of potential triggers is heavy in this book. There are figures that are dead/potentially dead. There are figures that are mixed with animal appearance. There’s cannibalism. There’s borderline self loathing/coming to grips with being homosexual. There are points where characters are in each other’s heads. The villains are brutal and unforgiving. Even some of the supporting characters aren’t fully trustworthy at points. This book’s narrative is intense.

selenatothemax's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gore, Incest, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and War

2treads's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

"This place, which lies between your world and the next, is the theater where stories like yours are told" — This moonlit body

Jimenez's The Spear Cuts Through Water is a testament and tribute to oral storytelling and all its complexities. This story incorporates the grandness that lies within a tale being told to the reader and main character alike. Where animals have central roles and play their part in pushing the plot forward and even the smallest character has their own time on the page leaving a mark in the weaving of a sweeping tapestry.

In a land where power and fear is used to secure a kingdom and tribute, a one-armed warrior is swept up in the theatre of betrayal, murder, escape, and rebellion. 

I do believe I would have struggled to read this physically, not being able to give another book any attention, but the narrator infuses the story and each character with such control and animation that the listening experience unfolded like a play. I could pick out the influences of puppet shows, stage work, word of mouth retellings, familial memory and recall.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Minor: Classism