Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

My Year Abroad by Chang-rae Lee

5 reviews

alysereadsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

I picked up this audiobook on a whim, but surprisingly enjoyed it. I did find the timeline switching a bit confusing, but overall, I liked the first half of the book. The second half was...weird. I don't understand how he basically got kidnapped. Also I really wish I had never looked up what sounding was lol. It was a bit disjointed, but I found the writing compelling. Also, just real weird. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Toxic relationship

gi_gi_g's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Couldn’t put this book down because I was so curious what would happen next, but oh boy was it also fucked up! The writing was also fun, weirdly upbeat and dry that kept the subject matter more palatable.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual violence

aliy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Physical abuse

Moderate: Murder and Suicide attempt

prettycloud's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a thoroughly odd and extraordinary piece of writing. This novel is witty and fun and thoughtful but also dark and disturbing. It does not seem to relish in its violence, but rather to pull the reader in to understand what the violence is made of. It asks a lot of questions and is a great beginner of discussions, but beware! It is not for the faint of heart or stomach.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Vomit, Body horror, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Violence, Alcohol, and Suicide

Moderate: Infidelity, Child abuse, Incest, Abandonment, and Death of parent

Minor: Colonisation, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Dementia, Medical content, Sexism, and Xenophobia

This book features some pretty gnarly dubious consent (there seems to be a lot of rationalizing going on—I'd classify it as rape, but it's unclear if the victim would). There's also a pretty messed-up murder and a lot of bodily and societal weirdness. It's not all suffering, but it's one of those books that you want to read slowly or sit out entirely due to the nastiness of some of its content.

kelseyland's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective fast-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

5.0

A strange, beautiful, and powerful coming of age novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Body horror, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Vomit