Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Le corps exquis by Poppy Z. Brite

44 reviews

desertlurker's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cursing, Gore, Outing, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Blood, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Vomit, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Rape, Drug use, Violence, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Death, Cannibalism, and Body horror

Moderate: Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Self harm

Minor: Incest and Slavery

finleyfrogreads'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Gore, Homophobia, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Incest, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Suicide, Vomit, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Racism, and Stalking

thesawyerbean's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I have never had a book cause such a visceral reaction in me before, it literally made my stomach turn - I had to stop reading it in moving vehicles to settle the nausea.

This was absolutely repugnant to read, and frankly not enjoyable. The characters all sucked in their own ways, some more than others obviously - the discourse on HIV/AIDS was heinous and the grotesque descriptions of carrion and murder were horrifyingly indulgent. The love affair with abuse that all the characters (even the good ones) seemed to foster was gross as well. 

I’m not naïve in expecting this book to be pleasant reading, but it could’ve been done in such a better way. This was just literal torture porn. In addition one of the fundamental plot points is just… unbelievable? Andrew somehow managing to basically die without actually dying, getting the better of actual medical professionals and then coming back to consciousness at the exact right time? Sure. Made the whole book even more ridiculous.

I wouldn’t recommend this even if it was good, but it wasn’t. So what’s the point?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Classism, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Outing, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Violence

cheyanndow's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Incest, Body horror, Rape, Addiction, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, and Sexual violence

ponydanza's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Drug use, Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Addiction, Rape, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Torture

lydialou419's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This book was absolutely disgusting. The author uses beautifully chosen words to paint a picture of absolutely disgusting and horrific scenes. I listened to this as an audiobook and sometimes wanted to vomit while I was driving, not gunna lie. 

But like I said, the author wrote beautifully and there were many thought provoking storylines that accompanied the other characters. This book DID make me wanna vomit sometimes BUT it also made me think, made me cry, and made me scream at my radio. 

If you’re into horror and shock value, give it a go. But it’s definitely not for everyone and helped me to realize that horror novels may not be for me!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Suicide, Racism, Addiction, Homophobia, Drug abuse, and Drug use

rosesofthespring's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Excrement, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Outing, Terminal illness, Torture, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Classism, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, and Incest

Explicit descriptions and discussion of HIV/AIDS in the 80s gay scene. Significant anti-Asian racism. Granted it all comes from characters who are meant to be despicable, but it is still constant.

natreviews's review against another edition

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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So another BookTok recommendation. I found this on a video labelled most disturbing books I've ever read and thought I would give it a go. To be honest, I didn't find it too disturbing. Pretty much, if you know the more gruesome details of the Jeffery Dahmer case (including pictures, I highly recommend the Murderous Minds episode on Dahmer) then you can handle this book. Speaking of, Dahmer was a huge inspiration for this story. Without going into too many details from the book, you have the picture taking, younger victim pool, PoC as victims, cannibalism aspects, plus an entire short scene that is pretty much straight from one victims account. (If you want to know the exact victims situation that got translated into this book, the victims name is Konerak Sinthasomphone)

It's told from four different perspectives. Three third-person, one first. Two murderers, one victim, and one the victims ex-lover. It was really interesting to read it this way. It was an interesting stylistic choice that actually ended up working. With also having the background set in 1990's New Orleans during the AIDs crisis, it's an interesting read just from a historical standpoint. 

I will give you the warning that you will need to read the last 60-100 pages in one sitting. On the final day/night the book takes place, it really ramps up and is just better in one sitting.

I gave this book a 5/5 not only for the story (because even though it's extremally disturbing, it still is a good story), but for how it's written. It's a read that is worth it if you can handle it, but, like Tender is the Flesh, is a book that I don't think I will read again. Once was enough in my opinion.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Addiction, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, and Pedophilia

queserasara's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Incest

possumpages's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

I know that saying a book like this is amongst my favorites probably says several disquieting things about me but I genuinely do love it. it's revels in its grotesque and has such visceral metaphors I just want to lay in it. disgusting, but excellent. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual violence and Drug use