Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

15 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...

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Fatphobia, Gun violence, and Animal cruelty

daphnemarie's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Infidelity, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction

sjxa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Big Swiss is a riot.

It handles its difficult themes, well, I wouldn’t say ‘delicately’ so much as thoroughly. It spanks them and sends them home to their mamas. Which I appreciate.

People keep saying that this book is gross, often in good reviews, and I guess it is, but I think really it’s SEXY. It’s ‘gross’ parts are bodily, obsessive, and cosmically kinky. 

Greta is completely lovable in her obvious flaws and bad behaviour, and I quickly bacame just as obsessed with Big Swiss as she is. So much so that I was pining for more of her tall blonde coldness in the last act, and as the book ended I didn’t know if I found the ending itself dissapointing for a lack of her, or wether I was just dissapointed that the book was over. 

I did actually take a quater of a point off for this. I’m sure something else could’ve been done with that very last leg, but not all books can be perfect.

It’s a completley addicting read with vibrant characters that makes you believe in a more interesting world. 
 
PS: I accidentally fancast La Grande Dame from RPDR France and then UK vs The World as Big Swiss, Kimiko Glenn (who I aged 10 years with the power of my mind) as Greta, and Harriet Walter (-10 years) as Sabine (who I LOVED and kind of want to be when i grow up). These castings would be impossible for obvious reasons but are somehow the only right answer.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic friendship, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Death, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Rape

Neither of the dogs die. 🐶🐾

ribbenkast's review

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is the first book that promised me weirdness and actually deliverd. None of the dialogue feels realistic, every single character in this book is deeply flawed, unlikeable and quite frankly invented new ways to be insane. But that's exactly the point. 

The writing is unlike anything I've ever read. Jen Beagin is amazing with language. Some sentences feel like a punch in the face, but it somehow feels good.

I understand that it's a defisive book, it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea and that's okay. Personally I had an amazing time with it and I will ad it to my list of favourites. 

If you think Sheena Patel's 'I'm a fan' and Melissa Broder's 'Milk Fed' were fun but you wanted something more out there, than this is the book for you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Suicide, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Violence

The consent between Greta and Big Swiss is kind of dubious the entire time since Greta is obviously lying about who she is.

plumdustsuns's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

0.25

😭😭 the plot was so all over the place and everything was so racist. I need to stop listening to online book recommendations/buying them because the book has queer content. 
There was no linear string of concentration. Went from flavia’s trauma to random affair to Greta’s random descent into jealousy without showing that she had a tendency to be as much and that her mom was the same way. The blasé way of ‘I didn’t care that my mother offed herself’ in the last therapy session versus her using and being bogged down and sad by this trauma was not only conflicting but distasteful. Also Om randomly caring about her when she’s just his transcriptionist and his care/their friendship not even being handled before?? It’s not plausible/would have made for a better plot line and betrayal and made sense when he offered her sessions if they were friends or friendly. He said ‘Lmao’ when she said her house was cold and rain was coming in. And he suddenly cares? 
And Keith was made out to be such a big deal and the stalker narrative and it barely did anything/added anything into the story? It wasn’t even resolved in the end properly?
Greta saying she had been SA’ed but it never coming up for her own intimacy issues? And it was just an offhand mention?? 
Also racist humour and just… so much wrong with this book, man. And how Flavia reacts to/keeps coming back to Greta doesn’t quite make sense. Also Greta gaslighting Flavia that adultery was worse than what she did? No??? 
Absolute fucking disappointment. Just a lazy and unfocused book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Stalking, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Self harm, Drug use, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Racism, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

rubyslippers96's review against another edition

challenging sad 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Infidelity, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Gaslighting and Cursing

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

finleyfrogreads's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Stalking, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Excrement, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Animal cruelty, Blood, Addiction, and Child abuse

sakisreads's review

adventurous dark funny slow-paced

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

3.5

I sometimes read reviews where people say ‘I support women’s rights but more importantly I support women’s wrongs’ and I really felt that with this book 😂

I feel like I have been reading a lot of ‘deranged’ narratives lately, and this one really came out on top 🫠 

Greta’s way of picking up on people’s voices was also pretty impressive, I have to say 😳

There’s obviously so many wrongs to this storyline (aka having an affair with someone whose conversations in therapy you transcribe…) but that was far more engaging than the ending 🤷🏻‍♀️

3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Grief

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.5

Why is this book such a big deal? The characters were too unlikeable to have any sympathy toward them. Only characters I liked were the dogs and the sex therapist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Blood, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Self harm, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide