Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous

52 reviews

villainizer's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

everyone keeps talking about how there’s no ‘hopeful’ ending for this book, or no tragic-hero-comes-and-saves-the-day outcome. what they fail to realise, however, is that book (which is somewhat an autobiography) was meant to show the ways & perspectives of a fucked-up mind. it was never supposed to be ‘pretty’.

sure, it’s misogyny piled on top of each other, and maybe even something born from a particularly bad case of paranoia (which the author himself keeps repeatedly mentioning he has), but my interpretation of this book says that there isn’t supposed to be a sad or a happy ending. just an ending. revenge & retribution. tit for tat. a story about a man who faced karmic justice for all his wrongdoings.

i gave it a 3.5 because at the end, the protagonist is so comedically unlikeable that you can’t stop reading the book. it’s one satirical, fucked-up ride, which is what i think makes it such an interesting read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

aquaria127's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Suicide

andrew_t's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

To put it in as few words as possible the book is okay, it's not horrible or by any means great. It can pretty much be summed up by the opening line with that happening to the main character instead. It's just the main character because I refuse to call them a protagonist because they are hard to sympathize with. Maybe that was the author's goal, they wanted the reader to hate them but it doesn't make the book any better, you just don't feel anything for the main character at all which makes the book hard to read at times. Luckily the book is mercifully short which is about the only thing it has going for it. If you want to read it tread carefully because it's barely worth its weight as kindling for a fire, much less a piece of literature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, and Misogyny

Honestly, don't read it unless you have literally nothing else and are getting on a short bus ride, because at least once you're done you can throw it away in a nearby trash can.

julianalynne's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

4.5

A really deep psychological stream of consciousness from a perceived protagonist with a mind comparable to that of a serial killer. I loved it, I loved trying to understand him, and I loved partially feeling a sort of relationship with him through his journey in recovery. Totally recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content

erin2802's review against another edition

dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent

froggybooks's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.0

absolutely mid.

i usually love unlikeable and male manipulator characters but it was just so meh. boring i wanted more but then also if there was more i probably would of dnf :/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

cal_bert's review against another edition

dark

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

dancingwithourhandstied's review against another edition

Couldn’t fine how many pages but just started chapter 3. Just got more and more dull, not like I thought (had been told it would be). Good concept could be done really well but not this time. Would love to know who wrote it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Body shaming, Death of parent, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

kayleiighh's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

It angered me but I did enjoy the book at least a bit 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

mariegrip's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

0.5

The only good thing about this book is the title

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny

Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Bullying