Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

218 reviews

verysillygoose's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-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? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape

downcircles's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What a wonderful book! I found for me it was best to read the stories individually and put the book down after so I had time to reflect on the themes and messages. The stories vary in how straight forward their themes are (and wether I personally got something out of them) and I wouldn't reccomend this for people who are just getting into this sort of wrapped up in several layers sort of societal commentary. But if you like that sort of thing definitely worth a try. This book uniquely made me want to seek out other people's views and analysis of the indivual stories and I gained a great deal more appreciation for the book this way. If you have someone else who likes this sort of thing and is willing to discuss their interpretations give it a go! (also my favorite is still "the husband stitch) 

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Content Warnings

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

sarah_hutchins's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, and Blood

Minor: Sexual harassment, Cursing, Animal death, Eating disorder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Homophobia, Medical content, Self harm, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

joensign's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Death, and Rape

lizzyjean's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

This book of short stories is astounding. Each story was so unique and thought-provoking, and I fell in love with each page. Each story may need a bit of reflection and analysis in order to grasp the story, but that is something I love to do, so I didn’t mind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual violence

At least two stories contain themes of toxic relationships, one focusing on misogynistic behavior. One story revolves around an epidemic, many stories contain sexual themes and content, one story has a brief moment of sexual violence/assault.

avasbookmark's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, War, Body horror, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Animal death, Vomit, and Violence

lily_eames's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

One of my favorite books of 2023. Machado’s short stories are incredibly unique and diverse, combining genres in a way I’ve never seen. The only story I didn’t love was the Law and Order: SVU one, which I DNFd. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness, Death, Rape, and Violence

arbramirez's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Stalking, Rape, Medical trauma, Grief, Domestic abuse, Child death, Blood, Sexual assault, Infertility, Incest, Drug use, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Hate crime, Sexual content, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Kidnapping

warlockdorian's review

challenging dark mysterious

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dysphoria, Grief, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, and Cursing

arcticoctopus123'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

There were so many sex scenes, and they weren't even well written... it really took me out of the story. Sometimes they fit in the story, but there were just too many.

Some of the stories were interesting enough, like Eight Bites and Real Women Have Bodies, but I ended up skipping 2 others halfway through because I couldnt get into them. I wasnt a big fan of the writing, it felt like the message was either too obvious or too convoluted, to me at least. Some metaphors also felt a bit ridiculous to me, and took me out of the story.

I wish there was more characterization, and that the fantasy and horror elements would feel more... fantastical and horrible? I love both genres, but I just didn't feel it here, it felt literary most of all, which is fine, but I went in expecting horror and fantasy. A dark fantastical feminist novel is just up my alley, so I went in with high expectations, especially because it has received so much praise. I'm sad it wasn't for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content