Scan barcode
pnwbibliophile's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me until about 30% in to get immersed in the story, but when I sank in I couldn’t look away. It’s often tough for me to stomach irredeemable main characters, but I think this one worked for me because you know from the start what they’re building up to do and the ending felt appropriate and reflective enough to give us a moral lesson.
What really made this stand out to me and appreciate it in it’s entirety was the Author’s Note. There I learned that the author aimed to touch on queer alienation, the post-Columbine societal reflection of the possible violence within all young men, and how all-consuming and toxic some early romantic friendships can be for queer people. This captures those elements so well it’s both beautiful and eerily macabre. The author, Micah Nemerever, is definitely going on my list of authors I instantly read when new works are published.
Moderate: Torture, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
Minor: Homophobia
peonydancer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
But still, the writing was lovely, and the description of a psychotic and totally unreliable narrator was wonderful. I did find the ending a little confusing at first, as
Graphic: Torture, Stalking, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Animal death, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
iridaceae's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and War
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Colonisation, Drug use, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gun violence, Police brutality, Racism, Torture, and Vomit
camsara99's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
rotatinglibrary's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Near the climax of the book, These Violent Delights becomes almost a satire. Paul’s violence and Julian’s black moods feel contrived.
They wait for each other to make the next move, never anticipating their own. Other elements in this book do feel real, though. Paul’s sisters and their aloofness, his mother’s anxious fluttering. Julian’s loathing of his family’s wealth and status. The fury of other people just being wrong and not caring.
Can I say I liked this book? Not really. It disturbed me. It stuck in my head for days after I finished it. I don’t exactly recommend it. If you want an example of stellar writing of a festering immature relationship gone to hell, this is it.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
Other content warnings:drugging, kidnapping, stammer, injury, car accident, codependency, politics, profanityjsboomhouwer's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
From the inside cover: “These Violent Delights” by Micah Nemerever is a “Hitchcockian tale of two college students, both with troubled pasts, whose escalating obsession with each other will radically alter the course of their lives”
I really wanted to love this one because it’s been on my TBR since August, but it just didn’t hit my mark.
The main character Paul, is deeply disturbed and enters into a mutually abusive relationship with a classmate, Julian, who together keep challenging each other’s views on ethics and morality. The book picks up when they decide to apply their deranged theories of ethics in the real world.
My favourite thing about the novel was the ethical debates that happened in the university classrooms, but that went away very early on. I kept asking myself in every chapter “why do these two hate each other so much?” - and they tell each other they hate each other so other. I felt like I missed something in every chapter and kept re-reading sections but didn’t find I missed anything relating to character or relationship development (if there association can even be called a relationship).
I gave this book a 2.0 / 5.0 rating because it slogged on, didn’t keep my interest, and I felt really confused.
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse