Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Power by Naomi Alderman

75 reviews

jebowman123's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

It’s hard to do justice to this book in a review. The only critique I have is there might be too many points of view, but that may be because I was listening to  the audiobook. Regardless, I understand why this book was endorsed by Margaret Atwood. It doesn’t just flip gendered power dynamics on their head, it presents a well researched take on what it means to have power period. The last chapter of the book hits the hardest in an otherwise subversive narrative and cleverly asks the audience to consider who writes the history books, who interprets archaeological artifacts, what it means to be a man/woman, and what a different world would look like. I felt like the author considered everything even intersex individuals and the many expressions of power - political, social, vengeful, military, leadership, sexual, survival, etc. 

Updated from a 5.0 to a 4.75. It’s a good book and I appreciate how much was included but the major lasting memories I have are the extremely uncomfortable parts. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Trafficking, Body horror, Rape, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Confinement

Minor: Child abuse

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, Violence, Sexual violence, Gore, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, War, and Torture

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Stalking, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Bullying, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Abortion, Slavery, and Religious bigotry

maggies's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Oof, what a thoroughly absorbing, disturbing novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Abandonment, Genocide, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and War

dangrl888's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual violence, and Body horror

armarino's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, War, and Torture

gracekatreads's review

challenging dark fast-paced

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

2.75

While the first half of this book and the premise are really strong and thoughtful, the analysis of gender and it’s affects in the second half is poorly thought out—the overall effect ends up being very gender essentialist and conservative. Scenes of graphic sexual violence are unnecessary and in detail every time.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Violence, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Body horror

shea_proulx's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Murder, Hate crime, Death, Body horror, War, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical content, Kidnapping, Drug use, Confinement, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

nurtu's review

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Hate crime

Moderate: Body horror and Drug use

mooisboosh's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Incredibly reflective! It's an amazing comparison of patriarchy and matriarchy and the strength of power and the abuse of it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, and Hate crime

Minor: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse

bethanie_l's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Wasn't sure about this one as I'm slightly apprehensive about the gender switch society concept. It can often be weaponized to say "see? You're just as bad as men so there's no point in feminism." This was not that. It felt more like... like pointing out that these things that are so horrific to see crop up are things that already happen to women in real life. And I can't deny that sometimes I long for men to understand what it's like to be afraid to go jogging at night, that you can't wear headphones because an attacker could sneak up, you can't wear your hair in a ponytail because they could use it to grab you, you can't run in secluded areas because they could abduct you in seconds. The first half is satisfying in this way, seeing women stand up for themselves and seeing men not feel in control anymore. It devolves into horror, but again nothing more than what already happens to women. Is that an excuse? Of course not. But it should be a wake up call to any men who read it. I wonder if they'll even understand that this book is a mirror, even though towards the end I feel like we're being bashed over the head with it. It made me cry deep sobs and I love it for that. 

Issues: very cishet view of gender and sexuality. There's no room for trans characters. One intersex character, but it doesn't go into the gender issues really. Felt like the

voice in Allie's head being Samuel from the Bible

was a very weird choice. And the graphic rape scenes were a bit much, even knowing the framing device of them. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body horror, Medical trauma, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Blood, War, Misogyny, Trafficking, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Child death, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail