Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

30 reviews

jenmcreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is one of those books that is so good you lose any access to words trying to describe it. The word that comes up most for me is visceral. The experience of reading this book was so visceral for me. I think this does an incredible job of showing both individual responsibility in the midst of horrifying injustices (in this case, slavery, so among the very worst imaginable), however also emphasizing the way individuals can get swept up in such a large system. The narration was clear that individuals (such as Rufus) were not solely responsible for the overwhelming brutality and injustice of the system, but it also did not exonerate the characters for the acts they were responsible for. Something about this book more than anything I have ever read really drove home the relentless and lifelong brutality of life for those who were enslaved in the antebellum South, and while horrifying, this was a truly remarkable read. I feel so dumb trying to write about this book, just read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Misogyny, Self harm, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Alcoholism, Child death, Sexual assault, Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Incest, Gaslighting, Gore, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Sexism, Blood, Hate crime, and Racial slurs

historianvik's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

What a powerful book. Truly incredible and insightful. The book had so much suspense I had to get up and walk around while listening ay times. The plot and characters were all very good. I learned a lot and I'm glad I've read this book. Many many heavy topics so check content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Rape, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide

aloy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, Medical content, Hate crime, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Self harm, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Drug use, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Murder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Death, and Confinement

claudiamacpherson's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Child abuse, and Vomit

soderick's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Genocide, Grief, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Trafficking, and Abandonment

narbine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Alcohol, Slavery, Torture, Racism, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Gore, Death, Vomit, Alcoholism, Blood, Colonisation, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

ekmook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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: Forced institutionalization, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, Vomit, Confinement, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Violence, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Car accident, and Drug abuse

alexwuwho's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Racial slurs, Self harm, Physical abuse, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

mandi4886's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Infertility, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, War, and Vomit

Minor: Body shaming, Colonisation, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Stalking, and Antisemitism

sjanke2's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit