Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

62 reviews

erinmjustice's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Drug use

Moderate: Xenophobia and Infidelity

dixiecarroll's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I found this to be brilliant, but I guarantee it’s a polarizing book. This was terrifying and emotional and felt ultimately like I was dreaming. Tense but non threatening dreams. (There are trigger warnings for DV in the first two stories so please take care before diving in). I finished this in 2.5 hours… ridiculously fast so it’s a quick and easy one to slip in there while still being completely stunning. A collection of 8 stories that seem to not be entirely based in our realm but at the same time they are absolutely on our planet - exactly like a dream. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

toephia's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

Descriptive imagery; surreal and trippy short stories. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

lola_milk's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

I thought this collection was well written, I just didn't like it. Between the cover and the title I thought it would be lighthearted, but it wasn't. Which is fine, it's just not what I wanted from the collection.
The story I liked best was G, which was about a toxic friendship and a fantastical drug. 
The last story, Tomorrow, was about a made up pregnancy condition, and it was explained just enough that I couldn't accept it as a magical realism thing, and instead I thought the defect was just not possible. Thus preventing me from engaging with the rest of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

odrib's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia

meganrose91's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy

quesatiya's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Body horror, Eating disorder, and Body shaming

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Cancer

marie33's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism

saltytiger's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Think I can officially say I’m a Ling Ma fan. This collection left me feeling confused, anxious, thoughtful, hopeful, and disappointed all at once. You can tell these stories are very personal to Ma, which I appreciate. Each story does end pretty abruptly, but I didn’t mind it. If you don’t enjoy open endings and surrealism, this may not be for you. My favorites were Los Angeles, G, and Office Hours. Will definitely be thinking on these stories for a while. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse and Xenophobia

mondovertigo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Eating disorder