Reviews tagging 'Cannibalism'

Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda

7 reviews

entre_fanon_y_weil's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Classism, Bullying, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Animal cruelty, Death, Excrement, Toxic friendship, Lesbophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

hi_im_tate's review

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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

3.75

I loved the formatting of this book. The few reviews I skimmed over didn't mention it. There are chapters that are like regular chapter books, full of text, and then there are chapters that are formatted more like interviews. The chapters, also, jump between characters and past and present. If that isn't something you like, I suggest not reading this book. There were times were it was hard to read because it felt like the sentences just went on and on and on with several words that confused me and were hard to pronounce.

Now, onto the contents of this book. I can see why people call this book "gross". It does explore some intense kinks (biting, blood, guns) with minors, but I thought it was done in a good way when they were CONSENSUAL! Reading about minors doing some of these things did gross me out, but I also have to remember that this stuff in real life already. That was another this that made me enjoy this book. The things that happened in this book have happened and will happen in real life. It makes it much more harder to swallow. Looking at the relationships between the girls reminded me of my relationships with friends growing up (though, not as intense). Having a friendship with a group like this, where two are deemed the "leaders" and one an "outcast" really describes adolescent female friendships well in my experience. Growing up with one person all your life makes the two of you merge together in a way you wouldn't have thought possible before. 

The descent into psychosis felt real to me, even though I have never experienced it. The repetitive movements, the noticing small details, and the panic that is ever encompassing a person made ME feel like I was in her shoes. I could hold empathy for her because of what had happened to her and how she "learned" to deal with it.

The dealing of the religious trauma was probably my favorite part. Denying your sexuality, forming something you can actually believe in, questioning everything you've learned about the religion you were raised as. It definitely sheds light on how religion can fuck someone up.

The imagery from this book was wonderfully grotesque. It was a book I didn't want to put down; not necessarily because it was so good, but because I wanted the answers hidden in the pages. And I still don't feel satisfied with what I got 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Excrement, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Violence, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Classism, Stalking, Murder, Outing, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Torture, Cannibalism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Fatphobia, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Death, Incest, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

rook13's review

dark tense medium-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

4.25

Without a doubt the WEIRDEST book I've ever read. Jawbone is disgusting, creepy, enticing, unique, horrifying, and thought-provoking. It made my stomach clench up in fear and disgust at different points but Ojedas unique style made me keep reading even when I wanted to stop. This book explores motherhood and daughterhood, religious trauma, and the intimacy and violence of female friendships.

Rated it 4 only bc the sexual aspect of the horror was sometimes a bit much (and with that in mind--tw for anyone for whom that may be an issue, including tw for sexual assault described rather graphically if not explicitly).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Cannibalism, Violence, Blood, Torture, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, and Incest

Minor: Excrement, Vomit, and Rape

caitlynes91's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

WHEW. wickedly good prose (shoutout to the translator omg?). also wickedly f-ed up. will be thinking about this one for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Homophobia, Excrement, and Self harm

matigiuro's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Blood

morebedsidebooks's review

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Lesbophobia, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

Minor: Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, Death, Abortion, Cannibalism, Child death, Transphobia, and Racism

cantfindmybookmark's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

The degree with which I loved this book has be wondering if I’m ok. Like emotionally. 

If I had to quickly summarize this book I’d say it’s Heathers meets the Craft meets Psycho. It’s about mean girls and toxic friendships and obsession and madness. 

This book places queer, female desire at its center as it explores the horrors of adolescence and aging, the thin line between pleasure and pain, and the many dualities of womanhood. It combines angst and madness in a way that cautions (strongly) against uncontrolled desire. 

Jawbone is a truly disturbing book. Not just with its imagery (which can be downright gross) but also with the very composition of the prose. With each subordinate clause and parenthetical remark within parenthetical remark, the reader grows more and more uncomfortable and the foreboding and claustrophobic atmosphere intensifies. 

This is Ojeda’s first book to be translated into English and all I can say is man, I can’t wait for more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Kidnapping, Body horror, Confinement, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Excrement, and Sexism

Minor: Animal death