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Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
111 reviews
leligavi's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Highly recommend to those that want to explore the horror genre without feeling overwhelmed.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Suicide, and Terminal illness
tanadeet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The story was gripping and well written, and took you on a nineties suburban journey of exploring some of the the taboo topics of the time, such as racism and sexism. It follows a group of white women who have a book-club-not-a-book-club where they drink wine and read and discuss mostly true crime novels. They are underestimated by their husbands and are expected to raise the kids, be the perfect hostesses and not embarrass them by asking the hard questions.
The book follows our main character, Patricia, who notices something amiss with the new neighbour in town, James Harris. She is constantly shut down when she shines a light on the questionable truths she finds, as it doesn't agree with their social norms.
This is not a typical vampire novel as it explores all these side topics and has a strong drama element. I enjoyed the story with its touches of nostalgia and horror and recommend it if this is your cup of tea ☕
Graphic: Gore, Dementia, Murder, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide attempt, Rape, Child death, Racism, and Terminal illness
fanboyriot's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
It started out well though I would have liked to read more about some of the side characters. I loved Mrs. Greene and would have liked to see more of her. It was at the halfway mark or about there that things kinda went down hill for me. Patricia was slowly being backed into a corner and the more she found out about her charming new neighbor the less people in her life believed her.
There are obviously some major issues within this book I'll add some content warnings that I think apply but I suggest looking them up if you're considering reading this.
The major problems I had with thus book were pretty self-explanatory. The misogyny, sexism, and child molesting really popped off in this book. I understand this took place at a time were housewives were seen as less than human and were it was common for misogyny and sexism. That doesn't mean I wanna read a book about it. And onto the child molesting vampire. What was the point of that? It wasn't like he could only feed off kids. So why add that to the book? It's absolutely disgusting. And lastly what was with all the world war ii stuff? Like dude your kid is drawing a swastika on their notebook and you're not worried?! It just seemed really random to add.
I will say that it ended decently and I really liked the small town setting. The kind of neighborhood that was safe enough to leave your doors unlocked all the time, and where the people who lived there would welcome you with some kind of food only to drop it off and learn your whole life story, that part was written really nicely.
Graphic: Murder, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Gore, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Gaslighting, Violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Classism, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Animal death, Kidnapping, Antisemitism, Self harm, Hate crime, Torture, Ableism, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Grief, Bullying, Cursing, War, Vomit, Suicide, and Domestic abuse
mitchteri's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Gore, and Sexism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
Minor: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
bingo_banjo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Dementia, Rape, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Animal death, Death, Murder, Gore, Child death, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Violence, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, and War
huldasif's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Death, Gore, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Animal death, Drug use, Excrement, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Hate crime and Infidelity
aezlo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
It's well written, but drags through the second half and could have done with editing out one of the tease and thrill arcs and just cutting to the build up and climax already.
Essentially a dead dove situation here. If this is your poison, it's not a bad go, but horror usually isn't my bag and I foolishly listened to a friend who insisted it wasn't that bad!! and it was funny/entertaining, which it at least is, but not something I would have ever chosen for myself.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Rape, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Racism
Minor: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, and Animal death
zalbion's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Cannibalism, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Emotional abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
purplatypus's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Gaslighting, Grief, Terminal illness, Cannibalism, Dementia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Addiction, and Vomit
vita_ayala's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Definitely solidified the idea that men are useless at best, dangerous and heartless at worst in a situation that requires seeing women as people, but that rang true.
Definite trigger warning for spousal abuse and gaslighting. (I almost DNF'd it bc of that but I am glad I pushed through.)
Graphic: Rape, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Blood, Gaslighting, Violence, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Child death, Misogyny, Dementia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Domestic abuse