Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

9 reviews

spectre_warden's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

Don't waste your time. Negative 5 stars.

People who may like this book: 
hate Japanese people, 
have only seen male gaze lesbian porn, 
have never had a healthy relationship with anyone,
hate character development,
still use the 'R' word in 2024, 
and know they need therapy but refuse to go.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Suicide, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Ableism

lolabecool's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-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

3.75

It was a captivating read, I wanted to keep reading it. I didn’t feel particularly connected with any of the characters, but I found their backstories interesting and I wanted to know how each of their stories would end. I didn’t want to form my own character psychoanalysis until the book revealed its own first for me to bounce off of . And now, thinking about it, I do feel compelled to form my own, so there’s that— if you’re into psychology/sociology you might enjoy this and possibly think about it after you’ve finished it. But there also isn’t enough information to go on for a long time. 

The romance is sapphic, which is historically fun for me, however I didn’t think it was particularly immersive.  I didn’t really care if they “worked out” or not. I would have liked to be a little more emotionally invested. 

The format really helped keep the story going— the recordings are in a different font.

Overall, it helped get me out of a reading slump, so very readable, but not super filling.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Infidelity

sestout's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Gore, Alcohol, Suicide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Cursing, Sexual content, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gun violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Addiction, Gaslighting, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Bullying, Dysphoria, Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Eating disorder, Ableism, and Abandonment

natlren's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

1.0

Between a lackluster ending, horrible characters, and extremely unnecessary microaggressions, Big Swiss felt like a train wreck. I don’t understand how this one has such glowing reviews, especially with the casual racism sprinkled throughout it. And yes, yes, I know that Greta is supposed to be unlikable, but again, the microaggressions in this book were entirely there for shock value. If you ask me, this is an easy skip. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Animal cruelty, and Violence

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Ableism

mugasu's review against another edition

4.75

Entirely mad - but also v funny

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide

Moderate: Addiction and Ableism

froggirl666's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Stalking, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Ableism

inkylabyrinth's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

3.0

It definitely made me laugh but at the end of the day I didn't feel an attachment to any of the characters because they didn't ultimately feel like real people. 

And I couldn't get over the unchallenged ableist remarks made multiple times by multiple characters. 

Overall disappointing, considering it was my most anticipated read of 2023.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Drug use

Moderate: Suicide, Ableism, and Violence

decie's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Stalking

Minor: Ableism

marywadesy's review against another edition

dark funny medium-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

2.5

I understand that the main character is supposed to be unlikeable, but I think it’s pretty disappointing to see racism and use of the r-word in a book. I believe there are ways to write about an unlikeable character without using slurs or racist descriptions. The premise of the book is really fun and unique, and I love the queer rep, but those elements still left a really bad taste in my mouth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Ableism