Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott

37 reviews

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

Alicia Elliott is an incredibly talented writer. I read her debut novel first, then this when our library purchased it. Each essay is masterful--especially that in which she weaves Susan Sontag's thoughts on photography with her own experience being photographed without consent by her friends through the lens of voyeuristic and racialized photography. She also has an interactive essay at the very end which blurs the line between abuser and victim as she discusses intergenerational trauma, family histories, and poverty.

Perhaps the most compelling essay for me is the one about lice where Elliott states that her family's crime was not neglect, but being impoverished. They had love and discipline and food. They just didn't have the money to treat the lice that ravaged her and her siblings for years on end.

Elliott also goes into detail about her depression, her mother's bipolar disorder, and her father's forceful institutionalization of her mother. I can only imagine what this must have felt like to finally publish, to "air out" all the family secrets, so to speak. She's brave, but she's also simply telling the truth. I really respect her for that.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Rape, Classism, Colonisation, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization

dreamer626's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

3.75

Please check trigger warnings before reading! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

aqtbenz's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, and Child abuse

kchin's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Her voice is strong, writing is clear and brilliant. Everyone needs to read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Murder, Genocide, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Racism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, and Colonisation

ocha10x's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Mental illness, Genocide, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Sexual assault

eve81's review

challenging funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Addiction, Child death, Transphobia, Pregnancy, Murder, Domestic abuse, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Misogyny

remimicha's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Police brutality, Body shaming, Child abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Cancer, and Death

voidboi's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

These essays give you lots to think about, have great writing, and generously share the author's personal history and emotional work to make meaning from difficult parts of her life. The final essay asks you to do the same, providing questions with blank spots for the reader to reflect on and "share", and it is quite powerful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer

ltulisiak's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This was a fascinating and heartbreaking essay about discrimination, abuse, mental health, racism, and family dynamics. There were several sections of this essay that were incredibly educational for me, a cis, hetero, white woman who grew up in a very safe, wealthy, and supported environment. Other sections of this book- especially those tackling mental health- resonated with me and helped me to look introspectively about my relationship with myself and with others and how it impacts my mental health. I would highly recommend this essay! 

Additionally, the author is originally from Buffalo, NY, and was partially raised in the greater Cleveland, OH, area, so I felt a geographical connection with her, as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Classism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Suicide attempt

clarabooksit's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Colonisation, Classism, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Racism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Sexual assault