Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Las Virgenes Suicidas by Jeffrey Eugenides

84 reviews

myfff's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

I found this incredibly bleak. Obviously the title doesn’t set you up for a happy story but what I found jarring is that the style of narration is so detached, like a scientific review or a court case and the deaths of these girls is not only known (due to the plot) but feels inevitable for them. 

It has the energy of an American Classic in the same way Gatsby does and I can see why so many people love it, however I found it much more interesting once I had read some analyses of it after finishing it - so if you’re looking for something with themes and a need for analysis this is definitely for you, if you want a story to enjoy maybe not so much.

The most interesting point (after analysing) is to see these boys who say they loved them actually didn’t know them at all and were just infatuated by the idea of these unknown women who live opposite them but are always  just out of reach. The style is also a brilliant insight to the complexities of teenage girls, as the adult men who are trying to remember the events through the eyes of themselves as teenage boys, think they understand these teenage girls but realise they never could. Interestingly the author being male also raises the question for me of how well could he understand these girls, and with that in mind they do have a slightly ‘manic pixie dreamgirl’ quality to them. 

My highlight of the book was the prom where the reader is able to engage with the girls properly for the first time, not just through the eyes and words of those around them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Sexual content

roochal's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Confinement and Child death

Minor: Emotional abuse and Grief

leejeyden's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Emotional abuse

male gaze romanticising pain trauma and suicide

merle98's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

This is a strike of genius that could have been ever so slightly more concise. But what a great critique of the male gaze and suburban society. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, and Forced institutionalization

ashleighlynn's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Child abuse, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, and Confinement

lilacfoxes's review against another edition

dark sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Child death, Stalking, Sexual content, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Ableism and Racism

Minor: Pedophilia

alyssagee11's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

ambercunningham's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Gore, Death, Sexism, and Suicide attempt

hanna_ix's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Death, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

ashleytalksbooks's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Self harm