Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

111 reviews

leligavi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

HOLY CRAP. THIS BOOK WAS A RIDE. Honestly, the beginning of it was a little boring. I was expecting a lot of housewives battling a vampire, but it was a lot more socially political than I was expecting. However, that totally makes sense. I mean, if a housewife with no fighting experience could easily kill a vampire than it would be more of a fantasy or sci-fi than a horror-thriller. And the husbands were absolutely incorrigible. I could not STAND Carter and I was just as mad as Patricia. I honestly thought her character was very dynamic and enjoyed experiencing her perspective and narration. This book was unsettling in a lot of ways that felt so jarring compared to the monotone lives of these women, which I believe was very intentional. <SPOILER> I was mortified at the part where Corey (sorry if that's misspelled, I listened to the audiobook) was being fed on, and having to listen to Hendrix describe this teenagers pleasure at being fed on, and a super naked vamp on top of her. And no, not in a sexy way. <SPOILER> I really wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but I seriously did. I'm not really one to enjoy horror, but this was something else. I think I'm definitely going to read another book by this author. 
Highly recommend to those that want to explore the horror genre without feeling overwhelmed.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Suicide, and Terminal illness

tanadeet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? No

3.75

I'm a child of the 80's and after the Netflix show, "Stranger Things", this book had a similar nostalgia that gave me the warm and fuzzies. 

The story was gripping and well written, and took you on a nineties suburban journey of exploring some of the the taboo topics of the time, such as racism and sexism. It follows a group of white women who have a book-club-not-a-book-club where they drink wine and read and discuss mostly true crime novels. They are underestimated by their husbands and are expected to raise the kids, be the perfect hostesses and not embarrass them by asking the hard questions. 

The book follows our main character, Patricia, who notices something amiss with the new neighbour in town, James Harris. She is constantly shut down when she shines a light on the questionable truths she finds, as it doesn't agree with their social norms.

This is not a typical vampire novel as it explores all these side topics and has a strong drama element. I enjoyed the story with its touches of nostalgia and horror and recommend it if this is your cup of tea ☕

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Dementia, Murder, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Suicide attempt, Rape, Child death, Racism, and Terminal illness

fanboyriot's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

I have some mixed feelings about this book.  I liked the plot, a bunch of true crime loving housewives starting a book club, reading their way through all the major serial killers.  Only to be met with a new guy to town, a guy who doesn't like the sun and who is all too charming once it sets.

It started out well though I would have liked to read more about some of the side characters.  I loved Mrs. Greene and would have liked to see more of her.  It was at the halfway mark or about there that things kinda went down hill for me.  Patricia was slowly being backed into a corner and the more she found out about her charming new neighbor the less people in her life believed her.

There are obviously some major issues within this book I'll add some content warnings that I think apply but I suggest looking them up if you're considering reading this.

The major problems I had with thus book were pretty self-explanatory.  The misogyny, sexism, and child molesting really popped off in this book.  I understand this took place at a time were housewives were seen as less than human and were it was common for misogyny and sexism.  That doesn't mean I wanna read a book about it.  And onto the child molesting vampire.  What was the point of that?  It wasn't like he could only feed off kids.  So why add that to the book?  It's absolutely disgusting.  And lastly what was with all the world war ii stuff?  Like dude your kid is drawing a swastika on their notebook and you're not worried?!  It just seemed really random to add.

I will say that it ended decently and I really liked the small town setting.  The kind of neighborhood that was safe enough to leave your doors unlocked all the time, and where the people who lived there would welcome you with some kind of food only to drop it off and learn your whole life story, that part was written really nicely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Gore, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Gaslighting, Violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Classism, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Animal death, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Self harm, Hate crime, Torture, Ableism, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse

Minor: Pregnancy, Grief, Bullying, Cursing, War, Vomit, Suicide, and Domestic abuse

mitchteri's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Gore, and Sexism

Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault

Minor: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt

bingo_banjo's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Dementia, Rape, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Animal death, Death, Murder, Gore, Child death, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Blood

Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Violence, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, and War

huldasif's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is kind of like The Stepford Wives meets Salem's Lot meets Fried Green Tomatoes, but it was funnier.  The first chapter was hilarious in fact. I was laughing my head off, it was so funny. I was a little disappointed the book didn't continue on like that, but the book was still good. It became less funny as the horror built up, naturally. It would have been too much of a reprieve and taken away the suspense if it had kept on being so funny I guess. Plus, it just doesn't do to be laughing while children are dying on the next page. It was more creepy than scary though. The husbands were just as creepy as the vampire actually, which I thought was pretty clever of the author. I almost wanted to do them off too, they made me so mad. I'll definitely be reading My Best Friend's Exorcism too! But I sure hope Grady Hendrix writes a comedy if she hasn't already, because she is the funniest writer I ever came across. That first chapter was the best.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, Death, Gore, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Animal death, Drug use, Excrement, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Hate crime and Infidelity

aezlo's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

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

2.5

This book was intensely visual and grossly visceral for me, which may be an intrigue if you're into horror and gore and the rest. I still think about it occasionally, many months later, but I sort of wish I hadn't read it due to some of the content. 

It's well written, but drags through the second half and could have done with editing out one of the tease and thrill arcs and just cutting to the build up and climax already. 

Essentially a dead dove situation here. If this is your poison, it's not a bad go, but horror usually isn't my bag and I foolishly listened to a friend who insisted it wasn't that bad!! and it was funny/entertaining, which it at least is, but not something I would have ever chosen for myself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Rape, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Racism

Minor: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, and Animal death

zalbion's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Cannibalism, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Emotional abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse

purplatypus's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Gaslighting, Grief, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Dementia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Suicide

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Addiction, and Vomit

vita_ayala's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A great contemporary vampire tale.

Definitely solidified the idea that men are useless at best, dangerous and heartless at worst in a situation that requires seeing women as people, but that rang true.

Definite trigger warning for spousal abuse and gaslighting. (I almost DNF'd it bc of that but I am glad I pushed through.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Blood, Gaslighting, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Child death, Misogyny, Dementia, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Domestic abuse