Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

57 reviews

bri_likestoread's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I'm glad I watched the series first. I think it helped me follow the story better since I already had a visual. The writing style was confusing or the story was just hard to follow, and maybe it was supposed to be that way due to the trauma in the main characters life. I still enjoyed it and would definitely like to read the 2nd book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Rape, Infertility, Self harm, and Sexual assault

capybara5's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Self harm

bettap's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Violence, Suicide, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Self harm

thyramathews's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Infertility, Suicide, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Misogyny, Rape, Pregnancy, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Religious bigotry

apatheticastronaut13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Abortion, Colonisation, Homophobia, Suicide, War, Rape, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Self harm, Misogyny, and Pandemic/Epidemic

sav_22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Oddly, I did not feel as strongly for this as I did the show adaptation. I feel like it wasn’t as easy to connect to the story as much. Pacing was quick and it left you feeling hollow and sad; this was likely the point, but it didn’t really have any development other than world-building. this has a nihilistic perspective, which can be more impactful for the message depending on how you go into it.

the show covers this entirely in just season 1, except a few passages here and there. The show explores this concept far more deeply and gives Offred more depth and personhood. Her real name is never mentioned in the book, as the show takes many creative liberties to explore the concept more.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Blood, Body shaming, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infertility, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Self harm, Abandonment, and Ableism

strictlydancer12's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Self harm, and Sexual assault

jessicaa_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Grief, Rape, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Confinement, Infertility, and Hate crime

dev921's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Medical content, Rape, Death, Deportation, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Blood, Miscarriage, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Sexual violence

bedoesque's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, and Murder