Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Galatea by Madeline Miller

87 reviews

betweenbooksandkitsch's review against another edition

dark funny inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Short but oh so sweet 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual harassment, Confinement, and Sexism

Moderate: Rape

altairetc's review

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Excrement, Body shaming, and Forced institutionalization

miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

dark reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

crowcrow's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Yes.

Madeline at it again with her gut wrenching stories😔 I couldn't put this one down, I was glued to it. It was dark, morbid, and I'm realizing that's my type of shit despite what I believed. It's a little bit more raw than her previous works, so that was jarring at first.

My copy had a little note from Madeline, which just made me love her and this work more.

I still cannot stop thinking about this book help me

I absolutely adored the ending! It reminded me of those dark fairytales (Little Mermaid esque). I think it's a perfect conclusion, and absolutely metal as hell, which is the shit I love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body shaming, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Confinement, Sexual violence, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pedophilia and Child abuse

hue's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexism

adventures_in_bookstagram's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

I really like 'Galatea'; it felt both modern and timeless in an interesting way. It managed to remind me of The Yellow Wallpaper, being framed around medical misogyny and institutionalisation of the troublesome heroine, while retaining the vaguely ancient Greek setting and invoking very contemporary problems. It's funny how, by sticking close to Ovid's version of the myth, Galatea comes across as a sexbot, disappointing her creator by becoming alive and therefore a sentient, real woman, as well as a sex object. It's a very modern and ancient form of misogyny and Miller makes the connection brilliantly clear without ever having to outright state it. Funnily enough, I've just finished reading Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates (recommended!), which discusses inceldom and MRAs and other forms of extreme online misogyny, so maybe it jumped out to me because the subject was fresh in my mind, but I think it's still pretty clear, and Miller's afterword provides helpful context about the Ovidian myth and misogyny, mentioning incels by name. Which made me laugh, since every time Pygmalion appeared or spoke in the story, my brain screamed "incel!" He's creepy and disturbing and pathetic all at the same time. And Galatea is an excellent protagonist, clever and determined and biding her time. It probably helps that Ruth Wilson is a superb narrator. She has an amazing talent for sounding conciliatory and arch at the same time, the quality of her voice is perfect for the character. I had mixed feelings about the ending, but ultimately found it narratively satisfying. And Galatea gets off a great one-liner. Overall, I think I prefer Galatea to Circe, and I'd definitely recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Minor: Abortion, Incest, and Pedophilia

Pygmalion is implied to have developed a pedophilic interest in young girls and his ten year old daughter specifically, fetishising their virginity and 'purity'. He is condemned by the narrative and galvanises Galatea's escape and the story's eventual climax., including his villain's death. Galatea fakes a pregnancy and is forced to drink an abortifacient against her will, leading to her faking a painful miscarriage as part of her escape plan. It's still a depiction of a forced, painful abortion, which might upset some readers.

gabriella_'s review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

4.5

This was a quick read but I loved it. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author and I gotta say, the way she was able to cram so much information into so short a story is no simple feat. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

jlye's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Misogyny and Miscarriage

leahkarge's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Sexism, Violence, Abortion, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

eni_iilorak's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Murder, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy

Minor: Excrement