Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Paul by Daisy Lafarge

5 reviews

happyknitter2020's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

2.0

A dark story about a complex young woman in France, caught up by a controlling older man with stories about his travels, when she finds out he has sexual abused young girls.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

hinkleh's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

bella_cavicchi's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

The word that keeps coming to mind when I think about PAUL is "suffocating." It is intentionally uncomfortable, forcing readers to reflect on the persisting allure of men who do not deserve the status/position/adoration that society continues to grant them. If this is Daisy Lafarge's fiction debut, we are certainly in for a treat with whatever she writes next. (And if you've also read this—or even if you haven't!—I highly recommend Ella Fox-Martens' corresponding Atlantic article: https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2022/09/paul-tears-down-myth-gauguin/671332/)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Colonisation

anxiousbookclub's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

momentsofmine's review

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship