Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Creep: Accusations and Confessions by Myriam Gurba

13 reviews

vickywoodburn's review

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I typically don't read too many essays or memoirs, but I am pleased I took the time to read Myriam Gurba's "Creep: Accusations and Confessions."

Through a series of essays, Gurba explores topics ranging from the stereotypes that are placed on a Queer Mexican woman, to her family's history, to her personal experiences with abusers and creeps. The result is an emotional, complex, heavy, and even funny understanding of the creeps in our world and the dangers that creep around us. It challenges readers to confront their biases and think critically about the people and systems that define our society.

Gurba's unique voice shines through in each essay as she invites us into her life and gives a voice to many victims who cannot tell their stories. Summarizing the complete book is a challenge, but it is certainly a worthwhile read. Perhaps a better descriptor would be to share that I was reading this book while sitting at a restaurant one day. As I got up to leave, the server approached me because she "had to know what I was reading" since I appeared so engaged while reading. Admittedly, I struggled to describe the subject matter, but I showed her the cover and highly recommended it.

While each essay is intriguing, my favorites were "Locas," which told the heartbreaking story of Myriam's cousin Desiree, and "Cucuy," which ties mythical monsters to a real-life serial killer.

The final essay, in particular, which goes in-depth into Gurba's own experience with domestic violence, is exceptionally well-written and provides an intimate look at how easily creeps can blend into modern society. Regardless of one's past, I think many themes and experiences in this book will be relatable to readers, especially those sharing similar identities. Nevertheless, I still highly recommend this book to all readers interested in challenging their assumptions and better understanding the creeps among us. I am eager to read more of Gurba's work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Torture, Grief, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Death, Rape, Violence, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

rhiannatherad's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

barbn's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

nordstina's review

medium-paced

3.75

Creep is an intense essay collection filled with strong emotion, sometimes anger, sometimes with humor. One needs to be in the right mindset to read, but this is ultimately an extremely rewarding read. Many of the essays highlight how some of her identities (woman, Mexican, queer) can run up against systemic, passive, and overt hate. She grows up in California in the areas where much of the country's produce is grown, mostly by immigrants, sidling up against very white and very wealthy areas. She attends Catholic school with teachers with regressive views. A favorite essay is her takedown of the book American Dirt and its author (well-deserved). She ends with the most challenging essay, where the book takes its title from where she chronicles the abusive relationship she had, which was an incredibly tough read. Gurba is a strong writer and a strong woman. I look forward to reading future work of hers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail

kklecornu's review

dark informative tense medium-paced

4.5

This was a masterpiece of a memoir. The author seamlessly wove cultural critique and historical fact with personal narrative. Gurba's analysis of the interplay between trauma and humor was a completely fresh perspective, and the way she threaded that duality through multiple essays hammered at the nuance of her point. The last essay may be the most horrifically accurate description of domestic abuse I've ever read. Gurba's writing is confessional without being extravagant, and this work instantly puts her in the top tier of memoirists of our generation. Move over Joan Didion, California has a new literary queen. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Xenophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Stalking

Minor: Child death and Police brutality

eastpt's review

dark sad tense fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

caitlynes91's review against another edition

5.0

transcendent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Murder, and Genocide

heatherleegee's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

A really great book that took me a little while to get into on audio, but once I was in I was hooked. This is kind of a given, but tons of TWs for sexual assault

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

emelynreads's review

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is a book I wanted to savor, sit down and contemplate, reading only two or three essays at a time. It's powerful, funny, and written with tangential style that pleased my dopamine addicted brain. Also, the TEA on the author's own family and popular authors is piping! 

I'm a huge fan of the author's ability to write on challenging subjects with a balance of humor, reflection, vulnerability and truth. One of my favorite books to date.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

francisco909's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I was gasping and sobbing as I finished this book. As the blurb says, Gurba’s work is ceremony, incredibly important to witness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Stalking, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, Hate crime, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual violence