Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Regeneration by Pat Barker

3 reviews

davbat's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

2.5

Well written and engaging. Remarkable that the author could take one of the saddest periods in British history and write it in a way that provokes almost no emotion or sympathy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Medical trauma, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Vomit, Ableism, Blood, Death, Cannibalism, Forced institutionalization, and Torture

Minor: Antisemitism, Classism, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Infidelity

ginnydw's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Confinement, Blood, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Medical trauma, War, and Mental illness

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

anitaxlit's review against another edition

inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Picking this up I expected to simply enjoy some content about Siegfried Sassoon —a character that's fascinated me for years— and I was delighted to find that Regeneration offers so much more. Its reflections on the horrors of trench warfare, doctor-patient relationships and the changing views on masculinity at the time are insightful, sensitive and emotional.

The author doesn't always state what she wants to say plainly: instead she takes you on a journey with the characters, and with subtle allusions and clever dialogue guides you to develop the same ideas as them. But Barker is direct and raw where it counts, and I was truly shaken by some of the soldier's descriptions of life in the trenches.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed seeing Wilfred Owen here. His few interactions with Sassoon are a welcome reprieve from the despair governing the lives of the other characters, and I loved the scene where they work on "Anthem for Doomed Youth".

"What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
— Only the monstrous anger of the guns."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts