Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Naiset puhuvat by Miriam Toews

61 reviews

carlytenille's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This is a weird little book.  It really is about women talking during a two-day meeting.  I found it strangely compelling, though.  I can't decide if I want to see the movie or not.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Violence, Child abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Rape, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Self harm

k8_face's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault

victoria_c's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Misogyny

lisesenb's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Confinement, Alcohol, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Self harm, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Grief, Dementia, Deadnaming, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Incest, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, and Sexual content

alisha247's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

kateleos's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

Basically a one-day read, after seeing the movie last weekend. There were things I thought the movie did better - I didn't need the Koop boys and am glad Sarah Polley excised them - but I loved learning more about August. I don't think I needed his inner life in the film (and I'm grateful for Autje's voiceover), but I'm glad I got it this way. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Grief, Incest, Pregnancy, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Physical abuse

The content warnings seem very intense, but the violence is shared sparingly and without detail.

theelizabethjoy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

4.0

TW: rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse 

This book was extremely difficult to read, not only because of the subject matter, or due to the fact that I have been a victim of rape and sexual abuse, but because of how it was written. 
I do think it is a story that needed to be told, that needs to be experienced. If you have been a victim, make sure you are in a decent headspace before reading this. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, Physical abuse, and Medical content

Moderate: Incest, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Stalking

laschwe's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Incest and Suicide

battybookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I struggled with this book until I switched to the audiobook format. I will say, the narration and choice of the main character still bothered me. My wish was that it was told in a first-person style directly from the women but there are elements towards the end that make sense for why it isn't told in such a way. Still, this is my main reason for scoring it lower. 

Otherwise, this book was an interesting meditation and tied well with my recent watch of The Wonder (2022) with Florence Pugh. It is a lovely telling of a horrifying truth with plenty of empathy and thought put into the women represented. Finding out the author has her own history with the Mennonite faith placed the story for me a bit. It's not a great novel that arrives at any full conclusion or plot finish, but it does meditate on ideas of faith and power. I don't know how or when I'd recommend this book to anyone, I am glad I read it though, and am enjoying the process of audiobook experimentation it is continuing me on. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

This book centers around the discussion of multiple real-life assaults and rapes. These rapes are deeply traumatic and disturbing in nature and are discussed in occurrences of many ages that may disturb people. There is also in-depth mention of physical abuse and the drugging procedure that is done.