Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Don't Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of NXIVM by Sarah Berman

5 reviews

siobhanward's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

3.5

This book is hard to rate because while it was well-written and in-depth, the topic itself was so gruesome that it was hard to get through. I knew almost nothing about NXIVM (I thought it was called "nuh-vix-um" this whole time), but it was so much worse than I could have expected. I have a fairly strong stomach and have done a fair amount of reading about cults, but this one was so bad that I had to take breaks fairly often. Please, please check triggers before reading this one! Overall, it was well-researched but honestly I think it went too in-depth at times. I think sometimes Berman went so deep into people's stories that I found myself lost and trying to figure out who was who and what was happening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Pregnancy

kellylynnthomas's review

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

4.5

This book is W I L D. At times I did find it a little difficult to follow all the names (I was listening to the audiobook), but eventually I settled into the story. And what a story! I had been aware of NXIVM and that it had been broken up, but I had no idea how truly awful things were for the women who were coerced into joining. Well worth a read, but be aware of the trigger warnings; the book is full of sexual abuse and worse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, and Gaslighting

growintogardens's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Abortion, and Deportation

Minor: Cancer and Alcohol

winnifred's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Trafficking, and Stalking

Minor: Pregnancy and Alcohol

clarabooksit's review against another edition

dark emotional informative medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail