Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Vox by Christina Dalcher

19 reviews

jmboff's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.5

Listened on audio. Between 3 and 3.5. This one was just okay. The premise is very intriguing, dystopian, and scientifically based. But the plot and character development just kind of fell flat. 

***SPOILERS AHEAD****

<Spoiler>

Jean wasn't really that impressive of a main character. I hated her affair with Lorenzo and how accepting Patrick was of it. Like no fight or anything left in him, but he dies for her and it's like she didn't even care too much. 

And Dell and Sharon, I wish their stories were more involved. 

There was just too much of the same type of scenes. I enjoyed a good portion of it, but wish it expanded more on other plot lines and less on the plot line of them working in the lab incessantly. 

I also feel like it was too unrealistic and forcing it to be realistic. Obviously it's fiction and dystopian. But I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that you can't even get half the population to agree to wear a mask, but we're supposed to believe that the entire country would be okay with putting electric shock devices on all women to punish them for speaking? I just couldn't even imagine this in a fictitious sense. You're telling me not one single person or group would fight back and uproot that system or attempt to assassinate the president and they just go along with it? Nah. 
</Spoiler>
Overall it was alright. Thankfully it was narrated by Julia Whelan so that saved it🤣

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Torture, Blood, Death, Medical content, Violence, and Religious bigotry

ams45's review

challenging dark fast-paced

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

3.75

I found this was a really interesting read and didn’t want to put the book down!! The only issue was that I found the ending was rushed, and a lot of things were brushed over so briefly! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Slavery

Minor: Racism, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

abbypeters's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Gore and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Violence, Homophobia, Self harm, and Sexual content

kazik's review against another edition

emotional inspiring slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Medical content

Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Murder, Vomit, and Gun violence

nila's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Torture, Homophobia, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Slavery, Sexual content, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol and Vomit

harpy_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a book that I couldn't put down, I devoured it in under 24 hours! I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian novels that make you really think about what the future may possibly look like if the government gains enough power. I'll likely read it again in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement

Moderate: Sexual content

dumbbuthyperfixated's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

scientific details were interesting, nice world building with the wrist counters. i think the writing made it seem like i didn't know if things were happening or not and that got a bit confusing 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Gun violence and Homophobia

Minor: Torture

stormwise's review against another edition

tense

2.0

I was very excited for this book - I'm obsessed with language and linguistics - but the execution...left much to be desired. 

My biggest gripe with this book was the pacing. With 326 pages split into 80 chapters, the narrative felt very choppy - this was occasionally effective when moving between the present and flashbacks, but overall it just made it harder to follow the story, especially as the plot picked up. Speaking of the plot, the ending was an absolute mess. The story fizzled out in a confusing collection of scenes that we are mostly told about rather than shown, in which

a character is dramatically killed off - conveniently fixing a romance plot point.

I have certain expectations of contemporary social dystopian novels, especially those aimed at adults. One of those expectations is a certain degree of Intersectionality. Dalcher includes gay and lesbian (side) characters and examines what happens to them under the Pure regime, but fails to include trans people - which I would be more forgiving of if she hadn't chosen to have her protagonist use the acronym 'LGBTQIA'. If you're just going to focus on the L and G, why even mention the rest? 
 I was annoyed further by the fact that Dalcher is clearly aware of the issue of intersectionality - halfway through the book,

the protagonist meets a black woman who predicts that she and her mixed race marriage will be treated more harshly by the Pure regime in the future.

"Oh, good," I thought, "we'll see more about how other social groups are treated." It is then never mentioned ever again. 
 I'm not saying that I wanted to see black or trans people (or any other marginalised group) being treated badly in fiction, but it felt disingenuous that a plot device rooted so deeply in Conservative American values was for all intents and purposes merely sexist and homophobic, and not racist and transphobic. 

(I also found the way that Jackie, a lesbian feminist protestor, was presented...a bit icky. "Feminism is good, but if you're too shouty and don't dress nicely then don't be surprised when you're branded as hysterical!" And don't get me started on the love confession flashback. Classic lesbians, amirite?)

Overall this book felt more like an exploration of the science and philosophy of the concept than an actual novel. The first few chapters of world building were very engaging but once the plot kicked it, it all fell apart. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Torture, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal cruelty

kleindoeil's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Should be a compulsory read at school mainly in the US but in every part of the world too....
Too many feels crossing my mind after this read but mainly anger and sparks to fight for the rights of everyone and for the end of toxic masculinity 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Infidelity, Homophobia, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, and Alcoholism