Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

299 reviews

sblack20's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

A thoughtful story about how the difficulties we have moving through the world affect and appear to other people.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

ada_elisabeth's review against another edition

dark funny reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Oh boy, this was a lot. 
When I initially picked up Normal People, I thought I was going to hate it. Why? Because of the distinct lack of quotation marks. Occasionally quotation mark-less books work for me, but it's a rare occurrence, and Normal People did not seem like the kind of book that should have no quotation marks. However, once I was able to move past the weird dialogue writing, I found this book to be... enjoyable? I am a firm believer that there are limited things on this earth more satisfying than finishing a book, so there's something a quite enjoy about quick reads, which Normal People was. I always feel a little like my nine-year-old self reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in one day when I manage to read more than thirty pages in one sitting, and Normal People really delivered in that department. 

However, the more I read, the more concerned I became. Firstly, I have never read a book about two people who are so willing to let others walk all over them. What happened to strong-willed, independent people? I suppose Connell and Marianne were made for each other because of how passive they both were. Secondly, Marianne needs help. Girl is really out in the world thinking she's unlovable and deserves bad things because of her abusive family. She also knows she needs therapy, but refuses to actually get it for some reason? (Props to Connell for realizing that he needed help.) Also, I feel like Marianne had a whole eating disorder thing happening there that just... was never addressed? Like, several characters commented on how thin she'd gotten, she never eats a full meal and orders less food at restaurants, and she even states at one point that she doesn't eat anything between breakfast and nine pm. I feel like this aspect of Marianne's life (and how it was related to her other mental health issues) could have been explored in much more detail. Also, the fact that she actively sought out abusive boyfriends was incredibly concerning. Please go get help, Marianne. 

Connell was also concerning, but it a much less prominent way. The way Sally Rooney wrote his depression was kind of humorous, in a dark way. Case(s) in point: 

"Well, here I am on the floor, he thought." (Connell, on being to depressed to make it to his bed so he just flopped down on the floor.)

"'... someone who's going through a mild depressive episode could expect to see a score of maybe fifteen or sixteen.'
'Okay,' he says. 'Right.' 
'And what we're seeing here is a score of forty-three.'" (Connell and a counselor on the results of his depression survey.) 

Although these are far from the best quotes in this incredibly poetic novel, they were my favorite. In any case, I was concerned the entire time, but I enjoyed reading this book, so 4.25/5 stars, rounded down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

damntessa's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Abandonment, Blood, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent

aherman18's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Magnolia Parks X 100. So much better writing, better characters, more realistic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Grief

sailorpisces's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Bullying, Classism, Alcohol, and Self harm

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse

henyouise's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to. I think it's beacuase it's so unsatisfying. But I think that's the point. But I liked Sally Rooney's writing style and am interested in reading more of her books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Toxic relationship, Grief, Domestic abuse, Classism, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Bullying

Moderate: Death and Eating disorder

sofiagordonramsey's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

ellislilylovestoread's review against another edition

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Grief

Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

tallhousecookies's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

3.75

This is what happens because cis, het, white people don't experience enough oppression.

Here's the thing: it had some good things to say about life, love, mental illness, and abuse. I definitely highlighted a number of passages that spoke to me, and clearly this book is beloved by many. HOWEVER: through this book I've learned that I don't like the miscommunication trope AT ALL. If that's something that even remotely bothers you, I'd say skip it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Classism

gremlingorl's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Cried like 5 times reading this thing. It’s very good and I hope I never read another word from it again. Devastating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicide