Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Scenes of a Graphic Nature by Caroline O'Donoghue

4 reviews

adrienne_rennie's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Cancer, Terminal illness, Death, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Child death, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Grief

Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, and Domestic abuse

bella_cavicchi's review

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I found this a bit of a mixed bag. It holds a strong premise, and I appreciated how Irish history (and the relatable tension between pride and shame over one's country) is woven throughout. But I also thought the execution of the narrative itself fell flat, the pace oftentimes moving too quickly and conveniently for me to appreciate the weight of the story. Likewise, the characters felt more like sketches than fully drawn out -- which is a shame because the foundation is there!

All said, it made for good commute reading :~)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Trafficking

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Cursing, and Alcohol

becca_thegrimreader's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I absolutely loved this book. In the words of Caroline O’Donoghue herself, it’s a banger. Charlie is an aspiring filmmaker. Her father is dying from cancer and Charlie struggles to balance her career and her family. She has just made a film based on a childhood tragedy of her father’s. He was the sole surviving child in a fatal gas leak in his school on the island of Clipim. Charlie travels to Ireland, and subsequently to Clipim where she must confront the past and discover the truth. 

Charlie’s trip to Ireland is quite funny initially as she considers herself Irish but has never visited the country before. The book tackles many romantic stereotypes that Ireland has been given by many. Ireland is often seen as a friendly, welcoming, and happy nation, yet the real truth is that we have as many issues and dark historical secrets beneath the surface. The book delves into the cover-ups and the denial of the truth. A warning to readers that it does discuss the abuse of women and children at the hands of the Catholic Church. 

Charlie herself is someone that you are rooting for from the very start. She is lost and hurt that her career has not taken off like her friend Laura. She is also mourning her friendship with Laura, who in my mind does not treat her well. Laura’s off-hand remarks about past situations between the two, and even about remarks about LGBTQ+ were incredibly hurtful. Yet the relationship and feelings between the two felt agonisingly real. The pain of watching your friend move on with their life, their career taking off, and feeling left behind are ones that many can relate to in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Sexual content and Terminal illness

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Homophobia

dj_teasdale's review

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Grief, and Forced institutionalization