Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Le corps exquis by Poppy Z. Brite

28 reviews

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.

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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

anthuriumskies's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

3.25

gay cannibals? um 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

lkazuk's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Body horror, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

gmelrose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

The book was interesting. It was the right amount of gruesome and intriguing, though it was quite ambiguous. In style of writing it was straightforward and easy to understand, it definitely made me queasy. As for the plot, I didn’t really understand it, though it ended quite surprisingly; granted the book was short, and it made me not want to put it down, I read it fast. Maybe the fact that it was fast-paced and a bit distanced from a proper reason for it. The book is clearly character-driven, and the characterization was the best part, in my opinion. I liked the switch up between narrators and their languages, a neat detail. A thing that really threw me off was the use of the n-word, coming from a white writer, not glamorous.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

zomblex's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

thehutonfowlslegs's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

2.5

2.75 / a great horror story, i just didn’t enjoy every aspect of the execution. the gore and gross parts were quite impactful, but they could’ve been more detailed and longer. there was also a LOT of story and plot with side characters that made it feel like it was dragging, and i just kept waiting for the “good parts”. will most definitely read more PZB books 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

lycheejelly's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit

lghoney's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Gun violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit