Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

34 reviews

jesssicawho's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, War, Physical abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Death

brainemptyjust's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I got quite invested in the story of Naoko, but I feel that the amount of horrifying stuff, that was happening to the characters, was too much. Besides, it was poorly done, in my opinion. The descriptions of trauma felt quite flat.
There were some good moments tho.
I did finish the book, so it was not a complete disaster. I just felt it didn’t balance well the ratio of realism to magic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Death

autumnreads23's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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: Xenophobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

toffishay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

This is a story of Ruth in Canada and Nao in Japan telling the story of their lives, their trials and the personal horrors that they face, and how they find a way through with the people around them. I really don't know how to feel, but I was really engaged by this reading experience. It was an interesting exploration of time and identity, who we are in the grand scheme of things. I really connected with Nao and her relationship with Jiko was so beautiful. I liked the deconstruction of a story. Like it's such a meta experience and what we bring to a story as readers. What we read and what we get out of a book says as much about the reader as it does about the writer as it does about the characters in the story themselves. We all make each other. This isn't coherent lol!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Classism, Grief, Abandonment, Misogyny, Death, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Rape, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Vomit, Deportation, and Fatphobia

alisonannk's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Torture

Minor: Rape

miciahsreads's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective slow-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

4.25

characters - 1
worldbuilding - .75
plot - .75
enjoyment - .75
writing - 1

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Torture, Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Toxic friendship, War, Alcohol, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Bullying, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Gore

Minor: Animal death

ka_cam's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-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

4.75

I came across this book as part of Multnomah County's Everybody Reads event and what a great choice! I often like books that involve a light dose of magical realism, historical fiction, existential angst, quantum entanglement, general moodyness, and people connecting across time and space soooo it was kind of up my alley. I felt like the end petered out a bit and sometimes things were a bit on the nose, but all in all really enjoyed!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Rape, Death, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, War, Torture, Violence, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, and Dementia

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Cancer, Car accident, Colonisation, Deportation, Mass/school shootings, Chronic illness, and Classism

acaciathorns's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse

mjohansson7's review against another edition

dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, Bullying, and Physical abuse

grooming

jaylee_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, War, Dementia, Animal death, and Murder