Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

21 reviews

lightthebeam's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.5

Just alright. I was confused with the plot but if you take it as a fairytale not meant to make sense it’s more enjoyable. The characters are sweet but not loveable. They learn in either know it all or whiny territory and I don’t feel as though they were really bonding ever. My favorite characters were the cats mentioned. It’s a lovely concept and I like it in theory, so if I think of it as a dream instead of a story it’s nice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Domestic abuse

jolineliest's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, Body horror, Death, and Infidelity

Minor: Confinement, Vomit, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, and Grief

riverofhorton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

So I went into this book thinking it was a kid's book and would be a fun frolic in a fantasy world. A kid's book it most definitely is not, despite the main character being 7 through the main part of the story. Once I realised and came to terms with my own assumptions being wrong, I found the book to be really enjoyable.

It tackles a few quite mature themes through the wonder of a child's perspective, which is something I don't think I've seen before. It takes place pretty much in our world but with a bit of magic thrown in, some being things that are still magic to us as children, giving the impression that there is magic to be found in the real world, if you look through that child-like lens.

I did also appreciate some of the little call backs to things that previously seemed unimportant.

I also liked that it ends in such a way as to facilitate re-reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Suicide, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Violence, Confinement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Animal death, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Physical abuse

stephanieluxton's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Stalking, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content

scruffie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity, Violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal death

szote's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Death, and Suicide

doomluz's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This was a beautiful, dark, sad, and creepy story about childhood trauma. I love how Gaiman writes fantasy, childhood, and horror. I almost liked this more than Coraline.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Body horror, Death, Suicide, Animal death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual content and Infidelity

mpbookreviews's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Animal death

Minor: Suicide and Sexual content

irinalast's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Feelings of wonder and dread; uneasy but charming read. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

oliverreeds's review

medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity