Reviews tagging 'Grief'

My Life as a Rat by Joyce Carol Oates

5 reviews

orlagal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Rape, Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, Slavery, Violence, Body horror, Body shaming, Car accident, Grief, Murder, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

A deep dive into trauma,  dysfunction,  and cycles of abuse. Oates shifts from first person to  both second and third person,  which made it feel choppy, and harder to stay engaged in. I might not have finished it if I didn't have a book club discussion on it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Alcohol, Dementia, Grief, Dysphoria, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Murder, Misogyny, and Death

lillyt's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Abandonment, Grief, and Hate crime

tctimlin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

fructosebaby's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Murder, Hate crime, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Classism, Child abuse, Bullying, Antisemitism, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, Death of parent, Gun violence, Infidelity, and War