Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

11 reviews

cspa's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

2.0

I had heard great things about this book and have recently been drawn to complex female characters, particularly of the unhinged variety. I thought it would be a perfect match, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The passion seemed lacking, and the character dynamics felt flat. Despite the characters expressing desire, as a reader, I struggled to sense it. The cozy moments felt more awkward than a cat trying to swim, and the intimate scenes were anything but, which made it challenging to believe the characters genuinely cared for each other even a little bit. The narrative leaned heavily on telling rather than showing, leaving interactions unexplored and reactions unexpressed. Though I would actively avoid these characters in real life - finding them quite irritating - I’ve managed to love books with unlikeable characters in the past, this one, however, will not be added to that list.

When I initially grabbed this book, the summary on the back cover intrigued me: a sex therapist's transcriptionist crosses ethical boundaries by engaging in an affair with a client... talk about drama! While there were some amusing moments, they weren't sufficient for me to classify it as a humorous read. I was looking forward to seeing therapeutic interactions that could offer a deeper understanding of the characters' challenges. However, it did not meet my expectations in that regard either...

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Torture

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gun violence, and Animal cruelty

pestosito's review against another edition

dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Medical content, Suicide, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Stalking

sarahbrowell's review against another edition

dark funny 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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Torture

christina85's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Infidelity, Torture, and Drug use

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Cursing, Drug use, Death, Grief, and Self harm

lilminx's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

1.0

Not my cup of tea. Lots of broken, unlikable characters trying to figure out life which isn't my favorite thing to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Torture, Drug abuse, Addiction, Medical trauma, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Murder, Rape, Blood, and Gore

vanessa_black_03's review against another edition

challenging funny 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug use, and Infidelity

Moderate: Murder, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Addiction

numbsloth's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault

bookswithisabel's review against another edition

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Death of parent, Sexual content, Torture, and Stalking

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide

sammietee's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

I relate to the characters in these books more than I should. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Stalking, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Excrement, and Suicide

studydniowka's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Świetna dekonstrukcja współczesnej instytucji psychoterapii i jej wpływu na funkcjonowanie młodych (szczególnie) ludzi. Niesamowicie zabawna i niesamowicie smutna refleksja nad kobiecą homoseksualnością i systemowi przymusowej heteroseksualności, który trzyma w swoich ryzach kobiety, nie pozwalając im na otwarcie się na swoje homoseksualne pragnienia i jak w konsekwencji, dzieje się to dość późno w życiu kobiety, po wielu latach w hetero związkach. Bardzo, bardzo dobra książka.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Drug abuse and Eating disorder