Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Galatea by Madeline Miller

112 reviews

michellesugen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Very interesting short story that is an adaptation of Pygmalion. Quick read. It reminds me of the never ending sacrifices of the women across the ages whose shoulders I stand on today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

elarasalazar's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Me atrapó enseguida. Me parece interesante la manera como plantea el mito de Galatea y Pigmalión, creo que nunca lo había pensado de esa manera, pero siento que, lamentablemente, no pudo haber sido otra. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence

vilandra's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

Well I’m not exactly sure what the purpose of this was. It’s incredibly short, so I’m glad I got it from the library rather than spending money on it. It’s hard for it to not feel like a money grab. It’s also one of those “look how terrible men are” stories. It’s supposedly feminist while Galatea herself seems to lack a brain. Which, I get it, she’s a statue, but you can’t have it both ways. There was some unnecessary vulgarity I thought. It’s okay for a less than half hour read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

alexlily's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, Confinement, Misogyny, Suicide, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

cherryboo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.25

The ending was fabulous. I’m so happy for Galatea.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual violence

scarlettskyes's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Cursing, Self harm, Rape, Abortion, Confinement, Murder, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

shayna14's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

this would get 5 stars if it was a little longer and expanded on what happened after the ending. 

more specifically, i would love to see what happened to pygmalion after he died in the realm of Hades, and if galatea would go to the underworld as well even though it seems that she turned back to stone. i'd imagine she had a soul because she lived for a time not being a statue and could think/speak for herself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual content, Abortion, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse

kristenhuck's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Minor: Abortion and Sexual violence

americattt's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.25

“The door closed, and the room swelled around me like a bruise. When she was here, I could pretend it felt small because of her, but when she left the four wood walls seemed to press towards me, like lungs that had breathed in.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence

james1star's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was my first mythological (re)telling book I’ve read and I know nothing about Greek mythology so despite this I found Galatea very accessible and a very decent read. Miller tells the story of Galatea and Pygmalion from the statue-given-life perspective thus providing a feminist spin that most importantly removes the romanticism from the myth. It’s very short but quite a lot happens, it’s primarily written from Galatea’s bedside with her reminiscing  on past events - she talks of her ‘birth’ and relationship to her husband/creator which is not a good one and her undying love for her daughter Pathos. In doing so, Miller throws up many topics of discussion like male ownership of women and expectations of beauty primarily. Her husband made her to be ‘the most beautiful woman’ and his love led the goddess Aphrodite to give her life but in doing so, a voice as well which is not what he wanted so tries to control Galatea believing her purpose is solely to cater to his wishes. There’s also an irony present because he made her beautiful but doesn’t like when others look upon her, portraying the typical jealous partner trait many man have. Furthermore, he’s blind to her ‘faults’ when using her but considering her afterwards notices the marks of childbirth - something completely natural - that he wishes to chisel away, highlighting the unattainable notion of perfection and beauty placed on women, rejecting anything that could be seen as ‘imperfections’ in her. Accompanying these messages with the vague language in terms of time period really makes Galatea a relevant story. It’s likely still set in the same period as the original myth but there’s a distinctive modern element to it as well that I can’t quite articulate but I feel it. 

The ending is in many ways beautiful yet dark. She is clearing acting with the intention of protecting her daughter portraying a hope for the future to contain less negativity and hurt which is intensely sad given what she does but also shows the power of her love for Pathos and those to come. However, there is also an element of administering justice and retribution in this act and I wholeheartedly loved this. This take is not as explicit as the former but I certainly picked up on this. 

Overall I would totally recommend this book and ate it up in one sitting. Maybe I’d have preferred it be longer but really I have no complaints, Miller portrayed the story well with a great spin and including important messages that remain true in contemporary society. The writing is good but the pacing is excellent, she clearly knows how to execute a good short story. Bring on Circe and Song of Achilleas that I’ll be reading next! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Murder, Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape