Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

4 reviews

dale_in_va's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Interesting commentary on the prison industrial complex and trickle down economics.  I think the sexual debauchery in the novel is meant to symbolize the corruption that occurs in such a system, but the sex in is so salicious that it can get a bit distracting and one forgets that it is a symbol.  But then again, in a world where one doesn't have real currency, I guess sex is the one currency that everyone has and can either spend or covet. 

Like Margaret Atwood's other books, this book is both entertaining on its face, and a deep social commentary.  Not a dissappointment, but didn't blow me away either.  Maybe because I couldn't really relate to the protagonists.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Murder, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, and Trafficking

Minor: Sexual violence

Men are not portrayed in the best light in this book. So much so, that it can be a bit of a distraction, and may be a hurdle that may prevent readers who identify as male from getting the satire.

eli99's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

This book was just weird. It's not the sex stuff that was weird. I don't mind weird sex stuff. It's that the dystopia didn't seem realistic. At the same time, parts felt boring. Parts of the world haven't changed, yet parts are so different. 

At the end, it tries to wrap things up, but it doesn't feel successful. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Classism, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Death, Sexism, and Medical trauma

Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Homophobia

addie's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment

cceeee's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Stalking

Minor: Animal cruelty, Grief, and Pedophilia