Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Apsēstie by Chuck Palahniuk

45 reviews

dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Considering how disturbing the content of this book is I don't think I could effectively give it a rating. That's how I feel about a lot of these "kinds" of books (if you could categorise them into a subgenre) - super super grotesque and fucked up novels basically. I did enjoy it although I had to stop several times to keep going.

My favourite stories were from Saint Gut-Free, Baroness Frostbite, Deputy Denial and Miss Sneezy. 

The novel was despicably and disgustingly delightful but the afterword was the most emotionally impactful experience I had reading this. 

I would never recommend this book to anyone; it's something that each person has to seek out on their own, on their own terms.

P.S. I definitely missed some content warnings. Please tread with caution.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

So, so weird. At times disgusting, other times almost funny—but always disturbing. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The short stories in between the chapters makes for an interesting read, but not a cohesive one. “Guts” is the best part of the book, while the other short stories fall behind. I hope to read more Palahniuk though!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark funny medium-paced
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

one of my desert island books

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark

This is the first book that I have no idea what to rate it.

This book definitely started out super strong. Both the concept and the first story caught my attention. As the book went on there was just a general feeling of uneasiness that I've only experienced a handful of times, and never to this extent.

</Spoiler>All of that being said there are some definite problematic  themes in this book. Exodus was the first story that made me actually want to put the book down. That story was all around disgusting and so uncomfortable, exactly what this book said it was going to be. There are themes of rich people thinking it's cool to pretend to be poor (Slumming), transphobia/sexual abuse (Speaking Bitterness), Self mutilation, torture, cannibalism and so many other things.</Spoiler>

This book is definitely stomach churning. It makes your grimace and say "What the fuck?" So many times you feel like you're stuck on repeat. Some of the stories are just not the right "what the fuck", more of the "This is seriously too fucked up" what the fuck. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This book is awful. I listened to the audio book, and it was an uncomfortable experience. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark tense fast-paced

Every content warning imaginable. 

But if you have the guts for it, worth your time. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark funny sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was difficult to get through at times. some of the stories I could barely keep my eyes on the page to finish, some were horrifying and difficult to get through for other reasons. (note: the story “speaking bitterness” has graphic sexual assault on a trans woman that is hard to read and goes on for several pages.) even though some stories were extremely hard to get through I really enjoy chuck’s writing and I want to read more of his work! favorite stories were evil spirits and obsolete.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings