Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Exquisite Corpse 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

shinsoukoku's review against another edition

dark

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

its as advertised and touted online—a gory disturbing horror novel. readers of this particular genre of horror probably won't go wrong with choosing this book. 

but ill admit i, personally, wanted it to be more than what it was and expand on more on the social commentary because it's the moments where the characters are simply existing in a society that doesn't want them to that really unsettled me. it would've helped understanding the fetishistic descriptions of tran (which i think is probably on purpose) in the eyes of white men as something that actually serves a purpose. but it falls flat and it's interactions with it's setting and the intersecting identities within them is shallow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Rape, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Drug abuse, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Trafficking

Moderate: Racism, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Vomit

Minor: Slavery, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child death, Incest, and Infidelity

asian fetishization

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

babieghoul's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Body horror, Drug abuse, Medical content, Sexual violence, Torture, Death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Racism and Homophobia

gryflette's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

jazmynwn's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Terminal illness, Gore, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Torture

Moderate: Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Addiction

Minor: Vomit

siba's review against another edition

DNF-ed about half-way through. I might decide to pick up this book again, because I think my timing with reading this was wrong. As of right now I don't feel like there's anything pushing me to continue reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia and Toxic relationship

Minor: Vomit

queerbiblioboy's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Racial slurs