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Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Kidnapping
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Kidnapping, Car accident
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping
Strange Sally Diamond was recommended to me by a friend. I ordered it, forgot about it, and read the synopsis, wondering what was in store. I couldn't read it fast enough, and while is was extremely disturbing, I found it well written with perfect pacing and complex character development. It's important to know that the themes in this book are much, much darker than the description indicates.
Sally is relatively unemotional after the loss of her father, (though she did like him), and she disposes of him, attempting a self-cremation. He did, after all, tell Sally to just "throw him out with the trash". Taking him literally, she tries, which garners attention from the public and begins the story.
<Spoiler> Strange Sally Diamond is horrifying, really. We learn what Sally endured as a child, being ultimately adopted by the researcher who tried to rehabilitate she and her mother. The abuse they both suffered for many years (her mother as a child) is stomach-churning and, at times, quite descriptive. What kept me reading was the deep examination of both Sally and her brother Peter as the story moved forward. How did abuse affect both of them, who did they become, and how did it affect how they interacted with the world? No topic or facet felt untouched, and at times I wanted to squirm away from the book.
Peter is a complex character who has redeeming qualities but ultimately, and unfortunately, continues the cycle of abuse. For instance, he morally separates himself from his father by saying that he would only kidnap women of age, and he would never force them to be with him intimately. His yearning for companionship persists despite having no guidance, but it is terrifying. I was interested in how his internal moral compass guided him, both witnessing his father's comments about women, and trying to heal in his later years. He was not successful. I couldn't believe he kept his father's prisoner captive after his father's death. I couldn't believe she was eventually willing to stay.
Some of the supporting characters were less interesting, but this was an easy 5/5 read for me. Wow. A deeply dark, upsetting, and thought-provoking read. Liz Nugent has my attention.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Torture
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Torture, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Car accident, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Pregnancy
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Moderate: Ableism