Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

I have some questions for you by Rebecca Makkai

72 reviews

porktheorc's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Transphobia, Vomit, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and War

megreadsitall's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

annaka's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I felt like the book was longer than necessary with plenty of unnecessary bits but it held my interest and I likely could have forgiven that if not for the ending feeling so rushed. We finally get to our killer and the we rush through the court case verdict and what happens after. The ending felt unsatisfying and I even went back and listened again thinking that perhaps I had zoned out during some important details. The main narrator isn’t very likeable, but this can be forgiven as well as part of the flawed system. The voice narrator did a good job with the reading and I think I felt more sympathy for the main chracter opposed to others in my book club due to this. The author also tries to philosophize and pass judgment on many issues, which is inherently bad, but almost seems to weaken the focus or power on any one theme. Overall, it held my attention and I mostly enjoyed it, but it won’t be a reread and I won’t be likely to pick up another book by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cursing

jagwar's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cancer

anne8373's review against another edition

challenging dark sad

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

earthie's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Honestly, this book was better than I expected it to be.

I think some of that is because I stopped near the end and spent the time contemplating what I wanted for the book ending, I suppose. I didn't know what would make me feel satisfied, which was good.

The book also stuck with me more than I expected it to. I've found myself referencing some of the prose just in my day-to-day life and thinking about it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

apiologee's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

ledichose's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The writing is among the best of recent books I’ve read. Makkai is talented. I do feel as if there are moments when I wasn’t sure what to think of

the examination of the #MeToo movement and the acknowledgement of widespread sexual harassment and assault perpetrated by men against cis women and the protagonist’s feelings about her ex Jerome’s cancelation. Perhaps the gray area is the point.

I was also disappointed about the way that

Brit and Alder disappeared from the final act and how Jeff sort of takes over the role of coconspirator. The “love story,” however brief, felt quite tidy.

Still, I felt sucked into this plot, alongside of Makkai’s writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

bookish_bell's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Incredibly atmospheric and engaging writing that drew me in and caused me to be caught off guard during some of the twists and turns of the mystery. 

I loved going back and forth in time from boarding school in the 90s to present day.  I appreciated the author keeping the story planted in the 'real world' and it read at times like true crime while also being explicitly (and cheekily) critical of the genre.  However, true to life is what ended up being the biggest drawback for me because often it felt like real life bureaucracy got in the way of telling a compelling and satisfying story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence