Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Rage by Richard Bachman

4 reviews

mdowdney1130's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Not my favorite King book but it’s crazy how you can feel sorry for someone who really doesn't deserve it. It is an interesting read that’s for sure 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Mass/school shootings

devynreadsnovels's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Alcohol, Murder, Violence, Bullying, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail

imposterwalrus's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Domestic abuse

maryy_r0se's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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

"There's a Mr. Hyde for every happy Jekyll face, a dark face on the other side of the mirror."

This is a difficult book to review. It is incredibly effective; it builds tension so well that it's nearly nauseating. At the same time, it is overwhelmingly unpleasant to read (and that is the point).

There is a lot to admire about this book. Charlie's characterization is extremely nuanced but seldom sympathetic. This was something I appreciated. Going in, I assumed the book would try to make me sympathize with him, but that was clearly not the goal, and I don't believe it should be in a school shooter narrative. So often, we are expected to justify mass shooters' behaviors due to their troubled past, difficult home life, or perceived mental illness. Rage managed to achieve the perfect balance of describing what lead Charlie to his decision without trying to excuse it. Yes, bad things happened to him. But the book never lets you forget that he is a bad person. Also,

despite the ending,

the story as whole goes out of its way to not pathologize Charlie's behavior. At times he calls himself crazy, but he never seems to truly believe it. You are not supposed to look at Charlie and see someone with bipolar disorder or antisocial personality disorder or schizophrenia. You're just supposed to look at him and see a bad person with a bad life who did bad things.

I was also stunned by the characterization of Sadie, one of the students being held hostage.

In the course of the story, Sadie reveals that she had a traumatic sexual experience with a popular student, Ted. She proceeds to describe her feelings after the event and how it impacted her sexuality going forward. It is well known that Stephen King does not have the best reputation for writing good female characters, so I was absolutely shocked by how realistic and raw Sadie's story was. I also appreciate the ambiguity of her encounter with Ted. For a book published in the 70s, it was surprising to see this kind of depiction of sexual trauma; rape and sexual assault is not always as black and white as people would like to believe. I was impressed with how authentically and sensitively this storyline was handled.

While reading Rage, I couldn't help but compare it to the other gun violence piece I read from King: the short story "Suffer the Little Children." I won't say that one is better or one is worse, but I will say that to me, "Suffer the Little Children" was far more terrifying, whereas Rage relied more on dread and tension.

It's impossible to talk about this book without acknowledging its controversy, namely Stephen King's choice to pull the book after it was connected to a number of school shootings in the 80s. After reading the book, I will say I understand King's decision. I am not saying that those shootings were the book's fault, or that I personally think that it needed to be pulled. But I definitely see why King may think so, and I truly respect his decision. Despite not being exceedingly graphic, the book certainly pushed the bounds of the typical school shooter narrative. I see why that may concern King, but I also think that that is what makes this book so good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit

Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, and Infidelity