Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Geisterwand

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Geisterwand by Sarah Moss

163 reviews

greenwillow77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Sarah Moss is particularly concerned with how the echoes of the past are heard in the now, & this book is an excellent illustration of how she goes about making that into a compelling story. Creating a creeping sense of unease & ratcheting tension that wouldn’t be out of place in an Ari Aster film, the story of Sil & the experimental archeology project rattles along at a brisk lick, simmering in the summer heat & Sil’s father’s temper.

There is plenty to unpack in this book- class, education, gender roles, family, teenage anxiety, the power structures of abuse- & it crams in to a story told in under 150 pages. I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed this book, but it did compel me to finish & it will stay with me for a while yet.

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jamarie's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.25

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readersreadingnook's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

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leneliest's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

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ibaladez's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

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

2.5

While advertised as an LGBTQ book that topic has little to do with the actual story, more a coming of age story

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lostacanthus's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-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

3.75

Picked this up randomly at the library because it was short and I liked the cover.

The writing style threw me off and I almost DNF’d it a few pages in. It’s so hard to tell who’s talking or if it’s Sylvie’s inner thoughts. But I’m glad I kept with it. I liked this more than I thought I would. The tension that’s built up with Sylvie’s father was excellent; he truly felt terrifying and I felt such sympathy for Sylvie and her mother. The characterization was really well done for something so short.

The ending was a little abrupt and ambiguous. Sylvie is safe for now but how long will that last? :\ I was kind of hoping that something more violent and permanent would have happened to her father at the end, lol. Would have felt more satisfying.

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