Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

29 reviews

vaguelyacademic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Gaslighting, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

This is a weird little book.  It really is about women talking during a two-day meeting.  I found it strangely compelling, though.  I can't decide if I want to see the movie or not.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Violence, Child abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Rape, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Self harm

lisesenb's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Confinement, Alcohol, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Self harm, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Grief, Dementia, Deadnaming, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Incest, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, and Sexual content

jess_segraves's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Death, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child death, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, and Pregnancy

savvylit's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

In Women Talking, Miriam Toews takes an absolutely brutal and horrific real event and gives voice to its victims. By setting the story after the crimes have occurred, she allows the focus to be on the women as individuals and as a collective force. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that these women are so much more than their victim status.

Having grown up Mennonite herself, Toews is able to paint a portrait of a specific faith and devotion that is unique to these conservative communities. Women Talking brilliantly weaves a collective feminist awakening into a story about deep faith in God and divine justice.

I've never read anything like this novel before and I absolutely fell in love with Toews' haunting prose. I can't wait to read more of her work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting

laschwe's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Incest and Suicide

crosberg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is the best book I've read this year (so far).  I'm glad I went in knowing the basic plot, because it definitely deserves a bunch of content warnings and isn't for the faint of heart.  But both the writing itself and the structure, how the story was told, were absolutely masterful.  The perspective choices, the character backgrounds, the jokes and small details, every single choice that Toews made elevates it to the absolute height of what the book is capable of.  The pacing is perfect, tight without being unforgiving.  When I finished reading it I had to lay down on the floor and stare at the ceiling for a while so I could process.  An absolute masterpiece.  But please please do pay attention to the content warnings, this book speaks about some of the most difficult subjects I've ever read about in a book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexism, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual content

nota_candycaine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Rape, Abandonment, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Misogyny

Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexism, Ableism, and Drug use

alisonvh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative fast-paced

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

4.0

I'm not sure how I feel about a book called "Women Talking" being narrated by a man, but on the whole, I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Dementia, and Child abuse