Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Lightness by Emily Temple

11 reviews

below_average_baker's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Domestic abuse, Death, Alcohol, Suicide, Sexual violence, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Fatphobia

archiveofrasa's review against another edition

mysterious 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

4.25

I really like this sort of vignette-style writing, though I'm not sure why. I've chosen this style for one of my own works so I guess it really appeals to me lol

the writing was really nice, someone described it as an elegant tragedy which I fully agree on. I don't think it was necessarily purple prose because everything had a reason to be in the story, even if I personally couldn't understand them. the way the narrator, Olivia, spoke about things and weaves her own beliefs and discoveries into their own little vignette said a lot about her as a character. however, I feel like there was a barrier preventing me from truly connecting with her, but considering the way she was written, I feel like that was maybe intentional.

her relationship with Serena really drew me in. once she was properly introduced was when I started properly reading, even though I will say that I didn't like her much (she sure was interesting. Temple tells and follows it up with a lot of shows which I really appreciate). Janet and Laurel were also really interesting and I wish we got to know a little more about them, but again I think the distance was the point.

I don't know how to feel about the vignettes about her parents; I loved them and how they were fed into the narrative but I also didn't enjoy them. they made me feel quite heavy, but considering her parents are literally divorced and arguably abusive, yeah. a lot of people also said this sort of queerbaited a bit and I do see the bisexual undertones of Olivia (hey hi I'm bi) but to me, it came off as that uncertainty girls have in relation to other girls when they're fully acknowledging the possibility of being attracted to them (while not necessarily sure that they are) if that makes any fucking sense lmao

I did in fact change the rating, I like this more now that I've sat on it. still will reread this when I'm older.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Panic attacks/disorders

a bit of fatphobia unsanitary acts

AKA putting period blood into the "hot" gardener's lunch so he would give you what you want. gross but not the worst thing I've read, unfortunately.

britt_coin's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide

2kerrymehome's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.25

If We Were Villains and Secret History but replace Shakespeare or Classics with pretentious buddhists with a warped, pretentious understanding of the religion. 

The detachment from reality didn't immerse me in the world of this story, it removed me from it. The characters all talk in parables and have insane motivations that the people around them acquiesce to. Its not just that theres no world I can imagine where enough starvation would encourage you to

put period blood in your hot gardener's lunch

but theres no world I can imagine where everyone would agree to it on the bullshit principle that it will help you fly. The writing style was so poetic it takes you a second to adjust to the actual events that are happening between copious asides about the death of Saint Theresa or crying women mountains. And those events are so confusing to me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse

mxpringle's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Grief, Body shaming, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt

shel_conn's review

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This is exactly my type of book—a distinct voice, witty asides, about women and culture and belonging. I absolutely loved the writing and found that the POV of the narrator looking back on her teenage years worked perfectly here. There was an honesty in Olivia's thoughts that can be hard to achieve, but Temple executes the story flawlessly. I loved this one (and that cover is just *chef's kiss*).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Death

Minor: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Toxic friendship

stevie's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Violence

mostlymusings's review against another edition

dark tense

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Addiction and Panic attacks/disorders

carrotcake's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Despite it taking me almost a month to finish I liked it none the less.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia

missyfm's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

Took almost three quarters of the book to set up and before any action or significant activity happened. Perhaps just not my style or preference. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse