Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Geisterwand by Sarah Moss

26 reviews

esme_may's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Misogyny

Moderate: Animal death, Classism, Death, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Murder, Pedophilia, and Religious bigotry

breauseph's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Classism, Xenophobia, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Animal death

ixris's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

4.0

Short. Finished in one day, but the dialogue is not set off my punctuation and all runs in the same paragraph as narrative text so it is important to pay attention to how the sentences are structured. 

A 17 year old girl and her parents attend an experimental anthropology course for the summer. Things happen. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Lesbophobia

Minor: Vomit

The domestic abuse and misogyny is a major plot theme in the book. The death and dismemberment of animals for the encampments food is a clear symbol for the way the men perceive the women at the height of the plot.

allisonmeyette's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I think this is a book I will have to read again and again. Stunning writing, and over too quickly. The pace of the book is very slow up until the last 15-20 pages. It's one of those books where if you read it too quickly and don't digest it as you go, you don't get everything out of it (which is what I'm afraid I did). It's also quite creepy while really immersing you in the world that the Professor is trying to create. Please see content warnings too, as there are a LOT of possibly triggering themes in the book and may not be for everyone. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Violence, Bullying, Animal death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cancer, War, Classism, and Vomit

odrib's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, and Animal death

Minor: Racism and Body shaming

brucethegirl's review against another edition

In the early 90s, a young woman's father signs the family up for a university on site experience living as neolithic Britons. A time when "men were men and women did as they were told" a time "before any dark skin ever entered the island" and a time Sylvie's dad idolizes as the epitome of living, when he held control due to being the man. But also present are university students, who open Sylvie to the tangible possibility of a life outside her father's violent control. 

What I think I loved most about this book, as an Anthropology student, was the way even the professor ignored the blatant evidence in favor of "roughing it" with a fellow ancient briton enthusiast. While a number of times, he explains to the father that "well no, they wouldn't have eaten with their hands, that just doesn't make sense." He also is more than happy to let her father dictate what the camp does and focus solely on hunting and discussing fighting.

To the point that at the end, he is an active participant in the torture of Sylvie, a minor. He ignores the obvious- that Sylvie had no choice about her participation, that Sylvie and her mother are beaten, that he should be acting more authoritative over the course attendees all in favor of having a good time and "maybe I'll write a paper about this" Including taking photos of Sylvie- again a teenager- as she is stripped, dehumanized, and humiliated. It was such a scathing depiction of scholarship and academia. And I think it's something that's lost to the other more sensational and overpowering themes. But I think that's exactly it- people ignore the issues within academia because "but they're smart. They are educated!" and don't think that the problems of classism, sexism, racism, can permeate the hollowed halls of upper education- when really that's where they are shored up and allowed to run rampant. The professor is a prime example of this, allowing Sylvie's father to run roughshod over the entire course because he's an armchair archaeologist and allows the professor to indulge in his fun. 

Then there are the more obvious- the theme of abuse and sexism. How Sylvie's father believes if he goes far enough back in British history, he'll reach a time of purity. He is a cruel, hateful, small man. The way the book handles the theme of abuse of power is so well done. I get angry just thinking about it. But I also remember how powerless I felt while reading. Moss really captures that helpless, overwhelming fear so well. She is able to light that fire so subtle that you don't notice until it's burned as bright as a forest fire in your soul. You hate this little man and how he uses his strength not to protect what he cares about- but to make sure they remember he is strong. He feels weak in other areas of his life and needs the people in his life to remind him he's strong. He is what evil incarnate means. Not just for his closed minded beliefs, but because he takes joy in the pain and suffering of his child and his wife. He is glad when Sylvie can't sit down because of the wounds he inflicted on her. He is happy when his family is hungry. He literally makes me so angry. 

Which brings me to my only issue with this book- the end. It just cuts off. There's no resolution- and I know its because this is the early 90s and at the end of the day, its very likely no justice would have been served. A time when abuse "within reason" was still allowed from both parents and schools. Even if the nature of the crime, and photo evidence, were well beyond reasonable, especially as there was no "just cause" for the abuse. I like to believe he served jail time, but that also leaves the question of where Sylvie will go. Where will she stay? Very likely her mother won't allow her home. Too warped by the father. I hope she stays with Molly, and is able to see the world.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Animal death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia

decembermagpie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcohol

shannananahey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Misogyny, Death, and Animal death

Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

carabones's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I was so captivated by this book but find myself at a loss for what to say about it! I loved Moss's writing, combining beautiful descriptions of nature with sharp perception of human behavior and beliefs. There is a lot packed into this short novel: the dangers of idolizing the past, how gender roles play out in everyday life and throughout history, and how both can ultimately lead to violence. Dark, disturbing, and atmospheric. I loved it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Sexism

caitlynleahy's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

Ghost Wall is a short novella about Silvie, her parents, three archeology students, and their professor as they partake in a two week historical reenactment of England's Iron Ages. It's heavy, with a large portion of the book focusing on Silvie's abusive father. 
Stylistically, it feels like reading Silvie's diary or being inside her thoughts. The lack of quotation marks for dialogue feels confusing at first but as the book progresses, it gets easier to determine who is speaking. 
I will say that the ending felt rushed, and like it would benefit from five or so pages. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Cursing