Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Tajemna historia by Donna Tartt

325 reviews

phantomeyer's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I kept waiting for this book to impress me. It never delivered. It did a good job of sustaining a vague tension, but it was also sufficiently hazy that the (likely intentional) feeling of unreality meant that I was unmoved by the plot. Plus, I had very little interest in the characters: a bunch of pretentious caricatures the lot of them. If I’m going to be told a murder story in first person, it needs to be a hell of a lot more gripping. And no, I don’t mean fast-paced. I mean more thought-provoking/eerie/evocative…. Basically somehow more interesting and entertaining. I don’t know what it says about me that many reviewers found this book to be “crazy” and really dark, whereas I mostly felt underwhelmed?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Gore, Incest, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

maddyv03's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Death

Minor: Self harm

hmw102's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

The writing itself was good and very poetic at times, but the characters were just so unlikeable and it was soooo hard to get through. I just didn’t love the author’s voice, which I know is supposed to be Richard’s attitude but god I just hated it lol. I did find myself hooked at several different points in the book, but it was not a worthwhile read for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Self harm, Violence, Alcoholism, Gore, Murder, Gun violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Antisemitism, Misogyny, Sexism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

jordan21's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

A very slow burn with a cast of complex, unlikeable characters. The “first book” was addicting, tense and dark while the second felt disorganized and unsatisfying. And even still, I finished 500 pages in a week which is a rarity for my reading style. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Incest and Self harm

librerin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

~ the intrigue ~
It was a really compelling story where I never really knew how it would end. However, I didn't always buy the characters or their actions. I wish there had been more time given to flushing out their relationships (part of the lack seems to have been intentional to add to the air of mystery, but sometimes that made the reveals feel underwhelming or undeserved). A neat aesthetic trek into dark academia, but with all its flaws too (whiteness, elitism, wealth).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Incest, Homophobia, Classism, and Self harm

norabeideineroma's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Misogyny, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Grief, Blood, Animal death, Biphobia, Car accident, Drug use, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Cursing, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

nclovelock's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Racial slurs, Murder, Suicide, Drug use, Alcohol, Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Vomit

jakirby's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Grief, Self harm, Death, Incest, Mental illness, and Drug abuse

joslyn_cole's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Murder, Mental illness, Self harm, Drug abuse, Addiction, Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Alcoholism

deparme's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Alcoholism, Suicide, Addiction, and Murder

Moderate: Self harm, Grief, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Homophobia, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, and Blood