Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

12 reviews

liesthemoontells's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

I can see why this novella has stood the test of time in terms of its atmospheric dread, the creepiness of it's supernatural themes, and the compelling narrative of innocent children being lured by evil, not to mention

the brilliance of the unreliable narration. I, for one, am completely on Team The Governess is Clearly Going Insane.

That being said, the prose in this novel is SO dense. The run on sentences are so exhausting that just trying to keep up with the plot is a challenge at times, which really takes away from the atmospheric horror of it all. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, and Child death

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship

xkrille's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I read this for university. I cannot deny that it is good. Definitely. But I do not think I understood it fully. I had to read some analyses and interpretations before I got it. As I said, I did enjoy it. I wish I had understood it while I read it because I definitely would have found it more spooky. All in all, it is my own fault that I did not enjoy it as much. The language was difficult for me, sorry!!! Maybe I did not concentrate hard enough. Whatever, it was a nice story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Death of parent

dev921's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Sexual assault

epeolatrist's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

The Turn of the Screw is an alluring and confusing mystery that often brings more questions than answers. In one of the most classic ghost stories, Henry James accomplishes the perfect mystery. There are few things that confirm the governess's ghost sightings, other than her own visions and recollections. There is far more evidence that supports the fact that she has gone mad, in my opinion. In the end, we are left wondering whether Miles truly saw the ghost of Peter Quint or if he somehow knew of the governess's terror regarding Quint and Miss Jessel.
Henry James leaves plenty of hints in reference to motifs of sexuality, madness, terror, and malevolence. I read this for class and found it far more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Personally, I believe that the governess had gone mad from hallucinations of ghosts fueled by her loneliness and her desire to meet an attractive man, possibly the children's uncle, on the grounds (in a Jane Eyre sort of manner). Her observations of the children trying to trick and manipulate her are manifestations of her own fear and, essentially, false reactions that she has created in her own mind. 
The Turn of the Screw is both fantastic and nightmarish. It is a book that will keep you constantly looking over your shoulder, fearing that you may too stumble upon Peter Quint or Miss Jessel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual content and Child abuse

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Classism, and Mental illness

jacobmarley's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, and Gaslighting

takin492's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Classism

coolfijiwater's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Child abuse

contrapasso's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

lindseyas's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

I read this book for my "Literary Hauntings" course, and it was very fitting in the regard of "haunting"! We discussed extensively the role of each of the characters, and how the relationships between the governess and the children nearly reflects the strange relationship between the children and the ghosts. The narration style and gothic imagery were well-placed in the tone and overall message of the ghost story (or is it?), and I think that the supernatural and horror elements were well done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Child death