Reviews tagging 'Murder'

My Life as a Rat by Joyce Carol Oates

11 reviews

hue's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark reflective

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Utterly painful, yet the story felt like it took a sudden turn when Metti came around. Prehaps it's just me. When he was gone it returned to its former "prose".

I am glad to have read this. It was intense. I am saddened for Violet's sake.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol

orlagal's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

l0v3lu's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Murder

Minor: Death of parent

jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition

2.75

dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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A deep dive into trauma,  dysfunction,  and cycles of abuse. Oates shifts from first person to  both second and third person,  which made it feel choppy, and harder to stay engaged in. I might not have finished it if I didn't have a book club discussion on it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria

tctimlin's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

theremightbecupcakes's review

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

fructosebaby's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Car accident, Death of parent, War

zoelynn's review

1.75

dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

3.25

challenging dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Abandonment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Police brutality

dobbywobby's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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I am a fan of Joyce Carol Oates and this book was excellent. I found the main character, Violet Rue to be very likeable and she has a lot of internal conflict throughout the story as she is continuously abused and mistreated while finding her way in the world. My only complaint is that I feel there is a lot of build up to the ending and I feel that the book ended too quickly. I expected a big BANG when I finished the novel and I got a medium sized Boom. If that makes sense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Sexual assault, Murder