Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

4 reviews

chananya's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Bullying, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Grief, Death, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Stalking, Violence, Self harm, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

oftheolivetree's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is an incredibly dark and compelling story as told by the survivors of a mass murder. Both ethereal and grim, the story discusses the concepts of othering and dehumanization, and begs the question of who the true villain is:

Merricat, Charles, the Village, or all 3

? Delightfully pervasive and gothic, I highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Classism, Dementia, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Violence, and Child death

Minor: Sexism

Shirley Jackson faced a lot of anti-semitism and othering while living in Bennington, Vermont, where this story takes place. Jackson prompts the discussion of the othering and dehumanization that marginalized communities experience as imposed by society.

jbabbm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

There's a riot scene in which two of the characters are ridiculed and attacked.

lucimolri's review

dark sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Medical trauma