Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Paul by Daisy Lafarge

17 reviews

parkingvalidator's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

1.75

I was so eager for this book to end because I knew

Frances would finally get away from such a slimy, vile man

.

The cover of this novel truly depicts Frances’ character and

the hold that Paul was able to have on her. I am glad she was able to choose best for herself in the end

.

How had this man ever been the sun?

I feel dizzy, as though the world has turned upside down; but I’m the one who’s been standing on my head, mistaking the sky for the ground. Not wanting to believe what my body, exhausted, already knows.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Pedophilia

Minor: Homophobia

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.

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Content Warnings

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

bookishnanna's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia and Racism

bigbizliz1991's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

melaniekarin's review

emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia

aislingreadssomebooks's review

dark 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, and Rape

coleslawcowgirl's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.0

This book had an interesting concept and phenomenal bones but I wanted more from it. The parts I wanted to hear more about felt glossed over and the uninteresting parts seemed to drag for pages and pages. I personally think that was a lot of this Lafarge's intent. Moments of clarity or red flags were brushed off, not to be dwelled on, and constant travel exhausted and confused both Frances and me, the reader. Regardless of intent, I think a lot of really compelling things could have been done if Lafarge had really let Frances reflect on what was happening around her. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Rape, and Pedophilia

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/)

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Colonisation

adelineania's review

challenging tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Pedophilia

stasiana's review

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Pedophilia and Gaslighting