Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

3 reviews

creationwing's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

3.75

The story was fine, and the descriptions of nature were quiet good. I found it could be verbose at times, and, as others have pointed out, the dialogue was wasn't the strongest. While I liked the characters like Jumpin and such, the author builds tension only to accidentally deflate it too quickly and too soon. I have mixed feelings about this book. I got emotional at times, but it was lacking something that made the transition between the two (eventually coinciding) timelines choppy. The time jump in the last few chapters felt especially abrupt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Cursing, Hate crime, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Body horror, and Animal death

Minor: Addiction, Medical content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, War, Mental illness, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infertility, Sexual harassment, and Self harm

Graphic depictions of domestic violence, including against children.

A (frankly unnecessary) scene involving racist hate crime and slurs.

First period Coercion of sex / dubious consent / wear her down Some injuries are described quite graphically, more than expected, at least Implied painful sexual experiences. Attempted sexual assault.

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I had mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I liked the unique storyline and lush descriptions of nature and wildlife. It’s a topic I’m not incredibly well versed in so I appreciated the knowledge. The plot was unique and not incredibly predictable. However, the book fell flat for me in terms of some tropes, writing styles, and the ending. I don’t understand how kya could be the most beautiful girl everyone said she was when she was often caked in mud, with tangled hair and subjective bad hygiene. It seemed a little to on the “main character is so beautiful so she has many men pining after her” trope. I also personally did not like that it was not in first person. I think we could’ve gotten a more solid understanding of kya if it was told from her perspective. The old southern vernacular being used in dialogue also left me a little disappointed. It just made it much harder to enjoy the book. Lastly, I found that the ending really through off all of the work that had been put in the book to establish the character of kya and the reliability of the narrator. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Cursing, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Child death, Grief, Infertility, and Addiction

sofiaxaguilar's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Infertility and Sexual content