Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi

4 reviews

kerrence30's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed the dark and emotional relationship between the main character and her mother. It was horrific at times, far from ideal and you do feel genuinely sorry for her. At times an (acceptable) struggle to read. The balance between disliking her mother and acknowledging her responsibility of looking after her is portrayed so well. It really encapsulates how painful and stressful it is to look after a parent in need, but the added layer of their difficult relationship is what makes this such a worthwhile read. You feel every pang of hatred and betrayal.
I listened on audiobook, and although it was well read I did need to re-listen at times. I think this was more to do with the irregular pace and succinctness of the writing, I kept missing important elements among less important parts of the plot, otherwise would have been 4*.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Dementia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

sabotheking's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Torture, Abandonment, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Infidelity, and Medical content

Minor: Incest

eepemma's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Emotional abuse

nora__reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.0

I can understand the many merits of this book. It is a clever and considered novel asking questions about memory and their changeable nature, family relationships (particularly mother daughter relationships), the consequences for women who choose to make themselves happy and obsession. 

But I didn’t enjoy it. It was a very slow read, too clever for its own good, prizing point-making over storytelling all wrapped up in a pessimistic narrator who left me feeling hopeless. 

If you want something slow which will make you think then go for it, but I was in the wrong mood at the time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship