Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Hole by Pyun Hye-young

23 reviews

leafytrox's review against another edition

3.75

dark reflective sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Car accident

apollinares's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark tense slow-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

---

A very short, very gripping story of a now-paralysed car crash survivor in the care of his mother in law, whose daughter had died in the same crash. I happen to find the

"caretaker turns out to be abusive"

trope particularly uncomfortable, and I also suffer from HORRIBLE second hand embarassment, so this novel felt like a personal little torture device. The audiobook was uncomfortable to sit through, and the claustrophobic atmosphere that's present throughout the story through its use of Oghi's senses - mainly him hearing things through the door, and the tactile sensations he does feel described in the vivid way of a character with no other outlet or focus - kept that sense of dread right up until the very end.

I've seen this trope done better, I've seen it done worse. I really liked the clues that hint at the wife's goals peppered throughout the book, as well as the broader cultural context. I also enjoyed the cinematic storytelling. I could picture some of the scenes as specific film shots - this would make great suspense film. Kind of reminded me of Bong Joon-ho's Parasite.

Alternating between Oghi's post-accident existence, primarily characterised by loneliness and neglect, and flashbacks to his marriage, the way the layers of the plot peel back slowly to reveal what was going on, really sat with me. It's not overly hand-hold-y, and I'm surprised at how uncomfortable it made me. Not even scared or upset, just so, so uneasy. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity

paperknotbooks's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Misery-esque. Eerie!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Confinement, Medical trauma, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail

Protagonist cannot move

zoparham's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Medical trauma

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol

fatfatrat's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Medical trauma

Moderate: Car accident

rachelunabridged's review against another edition

3.0

dark sad slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident

Moderate: Death, Infertility, Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content

sgonzo's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Grief, Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

melissahawco's review against another edition

4.25

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity

mishshell's review against another edition

2.0

dark sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

I just don’t think this book was for me 
It was creepy and sad and there wasn’t even a shred of hope to hold on to that it would get better 
Just a very depressing read and not enjoyable for me 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Car accident

mbaileym99's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts