Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

17 reviews

laurinbren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Self harm, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Homophobia

mysteriesandhistories's review

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

3.25

This was recommended to me in Waterstones and I kind of wish it hadn’t been. Well written and plotted, undoubtedly. But relentlessly disturbing and without a chink of redeeming light. It’s upset me quite a lot actually. Which is a sign of the author’s talent, but not an experience I’d care to repeat. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death, Grief, Pedophilia, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia

cheryl_gager's review

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.25

This book took me by surprise in more than one way. The synopsis does not hint at how dark the themes of this book are and when it is revealed at the start of part 2 (just under 100 pages in) it is shocking. I think the themes are tackled in a way that is easily digestible as there is a level of detachment from a lot of the most traumatic, disturbing moments (which were off page) didn't happen to the characters whose POVs we get. I loved Sally as a character, the growth she had and the inner turmoil she faced made her POV heartbreaking and heart warming all at once. I got frustrated with the side characters around her because they expected her to be understanding to things and others but it was not always reciprocated and she was never truly given the benefit of the doubt and treated like her choices mattered, especially if she made them on her own. The other POV was more heartbreaking. This is a story of how a negative cycle of behaviour can start (I am using negative but it is not even close to how dark somethings got) and how the cycle continues but I feel like there is hope at the end of the potential for these generational cycles to be broken.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Car accident

This has a lot darker themes then the synopsis would suggest. You do read about a child being kidnapped and held in a looked room. You also can work out what is going on in the room where the 2 different women were held (one of which you meet after they have been there for 7 years already), and it does eventually being said / confirmed later in the book. However, you do not actually see what happens to these poor girls/women in this situation and you are reading about it from someone who never witnessed the worst of it. There is one racist character but they are confronted and challenged straight away and they face consequences which are so fitting. The book ends at the start of the 2020 pandemic so there is brief mention of it existing but no real detail about what it is or the effects. Mental health and trauma is also discussed and you do read transcripts from the first victim / person kidnapped, whilst in a psychiatric ward in the lead up before she commits suicide.

ta_ma_ra_gj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Slavery, and Sexism

Minor: Lesbophobia

emlibe's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Racism, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Lesbophobia

nicolestegall'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

5.0

Although this was a tough read, I could not put it down. And could not stop thinking about the characters. This will stay with me a very long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, and Medical trauma

sophie______a's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Car accident, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Pregnancy

vanibhoo's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Confinement, Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Bullying, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Grief, Torture, and Misogyny

coleen_nieto's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Torture, Lesbophobia, Racism, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Rape

I strongly caution future readers to research this book before starting because it has a lot o friggers.

bookshelf_al's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Rape, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Racism, Suicide, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic