Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Binding by Bridget Collins

16 reviews

tinyjude's review

dark sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

Generalmente, no tengo problema con personas no lgtbi+ (por lo que he podido encontrar en internet) escribiendo historias con personajes protagonistas lgtbi+, pero cuando toda la historia se centra en la homofobia y en cómo los obligan a borrar sus recuerdos por ser gays, ahí tengo un problema (por no hablar de como es otro caso de una mujer hetero escribiendo historias con hombres gays y centrándose en el sexo más que en desarrollar los personajes...)

El libro te vende una idea muy buena e interesante que podría haber dado lugar a conocer una gran cantidad de personajes y experiencias diferentes, buenas y malas, así como reflexiones sobre los libros y el por qué leemos y escribimos. Sin embargo, esto es un libro de romance centrado en el dolor y trauma de los personajes. Las mujeres reciben abusos sexuales y luego se les fuerza a olvidar para continuar violándolas (quizás esto era una crítica social, pero el modo en que todo ha terminado, no me hace creer que lo sea), o se les miente y manipula. Hay muchas preguntas que no se llegan a responder, pero eso no es tan relevante como el hecho de que Bridget ha creado un mundo de fantasía donde podría haber diseñado una historia de amor queer sin centrarla en la homofobia y el dolor (ya tenemos suficiente de eso en la vida real, gracias). Con todo, mi mayor problema es que la encuadernación es utilizada para agredir continuamente a víctimas y se convierte en una terapia de conversión que me hizo vomitar. Y aunque no creo que Bridget apoye la terapia de conversión por razones obvias (cómo termina la historia), ninguna de las personas que los maltrataron a ellos y ellas sufre consecuencias, y gran parte de las escenas de amor entre Emmett y Lucian son escenas de sexo que no se describen pero a las que se alude de forma constante. Me hubiera gustado ver más escenas de ellos simplemente conociéndose, riendo o haciendo más cosas de parejas.

Por último y una de las cosas que más me repugna de la autora es que es una TERF (podéis comprobarlo por las organizaciones que sigue en Twitter y tweets a los que les da like). Los derechos Trans son derechos humanos y es horrible que aún haya gente que tenga estas visiones tan retrógradas. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual violence

annawookie's review

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Biphobia, Sexual content, Blood, and Physical abuse

Minor: Gaslighting, Vomit, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse

rachelg's review

emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Emotional abuse, Outing, and Suicide

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, and Vomit

amanda_t's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Forced institutionalization

helmituuli's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Vomit

Moderate: Child death, Incest, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism and Forced institutionalization

archcon's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I found The Binding to be strangely challenging to read. I think this is in part because what I thought would be strictly fantasy turned into a slow burn story about a farm boy partway in. It wasn't what I expected, nor what I particularly wanted at the time. Overall, this book just really wasn't what I thought it would be based off the description, which was very disappointing.

Spoilery part:

I also have really mixed feelings about the two main characters having their relationship found out and then their memories wiped, essentially, of said gay relationship. At first realization, this made me quite upset and I didn't really want to continue reading.

Another thing - Emmett realizing at some point that his anger/aggression/distrust towards Lucian is because he has romantic feelings for another boy somehow left an even worse taste in my mouth. I think this is largely because that realization was just dropped in, with little to no constructive thought or conversation about it in the text. Just some casual internalized homophobia.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Alcoholism

Minor: Forced institutionalization