Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

19 reviews

lmshearer's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

This was a tough read and I'm mixed on my feelings, whether this book is good or not. Please check the CWs.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

stevienielson's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Sexism

Minor: Body shaming

skipabeat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

3.75

Unsettling, dark, and depressing—but I really enjoyed the writing quality and the switch-up of POV in the middle of the book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Sexual violence

moosycakes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I wouldn't really say I "enjoyed" reading this book, although it was very well written. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style personally, although the layout of the book was pretty genius. There were a lot of uncomfortable scenes to read and this isn't a book I would feel comfortable recommending widely due to the topics covered. I'd suggest checking some content warnings before reading if you have anything you find particularly difficult to read about.

I think I'm glad to have read this book, it does have some important (harrowing) messages and the relationships between the different perspectives of the characters will have me thinking about this book for a long time.

You may struggle with following some of the story if you get easily confused, I found that sometimes the coherency of the plot and what was actually happening came second to the writing style and use of detailed description/imagery. While some of that issue can be explained by the writing style being chosen and changed to serve the story and the differing narrative styles, sometimes it went a bit over what would be necessary for that end, in my opinion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Body shaming, Vomit, and Gun violence

Minor: Eating disorder and Suicide

collinsshaym's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Gun violence

knkoch's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This was a powerful and intense book. It’s sharp and prickly and challenged me- to think harder, more critically, to pick sides and change allegiances. This story doesn’t spell everything out, and I’m sure it will be spinning in my mind for a while to come.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

This book thoroughly and graphically explores teacher-student sexual relationships.

meganm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

One of the best books I've read in years. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

deusbexmachina's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow wow wow wow. I devoured this book and can't stop thinking about it. I won't spoil it (especially because doing so would require so much explanation and summary). But I do think the book is brilliantly constructed. The core themes are trust, believability, and accountability, particularly in regards to sexual assault. As a reader, you know that horrific things have happened to the main characters; they have been mistreated and taken advantage of. But the exact nature of what happened to them is up for debate, called into question again and again throughout the book, so you're forced to interrogate the survivors' accounts, rather than their abusers. It feels ugly, and I think that's Susan Choi's point. Okay, one spoiler:

I would say that Martin most definitely does not get off the hook for his actions, even though retribution comes late. But Mr. Kingsley/Mr. Lord? He dies without repercussion. However, their actions deeply impact Karen (who carries so much anger), Claire (who will never know her parents), and Sarah (who needs to distance herself through fiction), and their suffering is largely invisible.

I know why this book is polarizing, but I can't wait to talk about it with everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Misogyny

Minor: Drug use, Death, and Homophobia

assimbya's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual violence