Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Gerald's Game by Stephen King

3 reviews

schmendez's review against another edition

4.0

**WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS**


I really enjoyed the storyline of Jessie as an adult! BUT!!!!!! Hated the storyline of young Jessie. I won’t be rereading this book. I typically avoid books with child abuse/SA, but this had an extra layer of disgusting because it was written by a male author who CLEARLY doesn’t understand what this experience could be like for a young girl. The inner monologue of the young girl is sooooo inaccurate and gross!!!!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Cannibalism

nenaveenstra's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I was impressed by how deeply and respectfully this book discussed sexual assault - this was way more than just a thriller surrounding a BDSM game gone wrong, it was a psychological event. I was deeply entertained and shook to the core with everything that happened. I'm not 100% sure how accurate the depictions of schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder as well as sexual assault were, but they felt respectful and I appreciate that.

I do think this book could've benefited from killing some darlings, if you know what I mean. Especially the last thirty-ish pages - which read as a sort of epilogue - could've been scrapped in my opinion, leaving the ending a bit more open. It was all tied up too neatly.

Anyway this was a fun time, and I'm glad to have read it. Nothing tops The Shining, though ;)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Body shaming

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Suicide, and Antisemitism

The book is based around an idea of BDSM that isn't entirely accurate and can be very harmful. This is not what BDSM looks like, everyone!! Because BDSM would imply mutual consent!!! Also there are two subtle references to Nazi Germany in this book which were kind of odd - they were supposed to be funny I think, but I thought they were a little bit tasteless.

queer_venus's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Literally made me feel physically sick

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt