Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

116 reviews

l4urenbrooks's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

The book was very character driven and there wasn't an obvious plot but for me who's nosy into other people's lives, I didn't find it unenjoyable. I'll move onto watching the BBC series now :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

It covers a lot of topics but not in too far detail that it's uncomfortable

painausten314's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sarrahh's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

aftersuns_'s review against another edition

fast-paced

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

0.5

I rarely say I dislike a book, but this was one of the worst I have ever read. I only gave it 0.5 stars on the basis that there was a few good lines throughout the book that resonated with me, but on a whole, it was triggering, bordering on the glorification of several touchy subjects.

Rooney might have been attempting to connect the intricacies of human interactions between Connell and Marianne, but they come off a grotesque and idealized. The depiction of Marianne eating and the descriptions of how she is practically starving herself on purpose are deeply upsetting and probably should not be read by anyone who suffers from an eating disorder. Like wise, those who suffer from any form of sexual abuse, harassments, or trauma will most like not find this book enjoyable due to the way Rooney weaves the issue into the fabric of her characters. There is a distinct difference between kinky sex and glorifying abuse as a form of kink, and Rooney fails to find the difference between the two.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ale15sousa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective relaxing 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual content

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and Pregnancy

ctama's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

-0.25 just because I feel the ending was a bit rushed, but the book was beautifully written. 
"I suppose I didn't want you to think I was damaged or something. I was probably afraid you wouldn't want me anymore" 
heartbreaking. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Gaslighting

ingabbjarna's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Sexual violence

vixenreader's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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

4.75

Be prepared to relive your most woeful miscommunications you have ever had in a romantic relationship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Biphobia and Racism

If you are part of the kink community, you should recognize that the masochism in the book is more of an unhealthy pattern in a character’s abusive cycle rather than a prime example of how consensual BDSM is actually practiced.

hannybee96's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Bullying, Self harm, Death of parent, and Alcohol

gab8y_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

Rooney’s writing style is succinct but says so much with so little, however, there really could be more diverse characters in her books. I do not care how pale and pretty marianne is.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

sadomasochistic relationships pale PALE characters