Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

30 reviews

willow_the_wisp's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

paneerakbari's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

5.0

Exquisitely written and a tremendously imaginative blending of often obscure sources. Valente wields language like a samurai with their sword, or a chef with a knife, and to rather the same effect, emotionally. 

The book is novella-length, easily read through in a day if not a single (extended) sitting. It is dark, and tight, and uncomfortably close. The studied reader is liable to be piqued by the author's name-drops, and they work well as signposts pointing you on to the conclusion, itself another beginning. It's the sort of tale that, like all the best ones, matters more in the "getting there" than in the particulars of its plot: "how it's done" is so much tastier than "what it was" - though what it is includes penetrating insight, criticism so sharp you don't quite notice its bite, and a profound (though implicit) challenge to a particular ordering of some societies.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry

Primary literary influences appear to be the Christian bible and apocrypha, Judo-Christian temple tradition, and Bluebeard folklore. This is not intended as a comprehensive list.

andrewhatesham's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Murder, Body horror, Gore, and Toxic relationship

ka_ke's review

challenging dark fast-paced

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

5.0

Comfort Me with Apples is a bit of a mind fuck. 

It starts off eerie, I mean, what woman wakes up that perfectly in a perfect world. 

It makes you think, in some cases I wish I could wake up that way, and in others, I’m glad I live with the ability to think and observe my surroundings critically. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Body horror, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism

lettucelaugh's review

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

abrasieve's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gaslighting, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore

crizzle's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

nuh_thaan's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

First off, I thought the writing was beautiful, simple, and purposeful. Then the story itself was presented in a really fascinating way. Like, oh its this... no it's not! So good!

The way it was so effortless as well to present a take an such an old Bible story was amazing. There's not much else to say. Definitely not 5 stars by my standards, but amazing in its own way. Entertaining enough for 4, the beauty of the book and the story make up the .75.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse

opheliafrey's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse

batcaves's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse