victaphone's reviews
142 reviews

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

0.25

Every accusation of this being unnecessary trauma porn is true. It claims to be about the lives and friendships of 4 men, but not even half way through the book it's made very clear that this is all about Jude and all the awful situations the authour revels in putting him through. The heavy-handedness when it comes to Judes suffering takes away a lot of whatever impact the authour thought she was making. The few moments Jude *isn't* being abused are way more interesting, as we actually get a hint of his actual personality (what little there is of it), rather than being Yanagiharas punching bag. Jude is clearly written to be the main character, but the author doesn't give him much character to begin with, so all talk about him being "post racial" just feels like lack of commitment, rather than whatever radical thing the authour thought she was doing with that. Don't even get me started on the horrible representation of gay men, this is *not* "the great gay novel" and whoever said that needs their head checked (although they'd probably share Yanagiharas views on how therapy doesn't work). Overall, this was a waste of over 700 pages. Even though queer representation in books could be better, a book written by a straight woman where most if not all of the gay sex is rape and most of the "gay men" are just pedos should not be met with this much acclaim.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Dementia, Car accident, Acephobia/Arophobia

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

It felt like not much happened.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury

Bunny by Mona Awad

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? No

3.5

The Maid by Nita Prose

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

At the End of 4 Minutes by Yariku Hirahama

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

5.0

All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat by Suzy Becker

adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Racism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, War

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

• 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? It's complicated

3.0

Rq

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent

Minor: Biphobia, Terminal illness

The Scar by Charlotte Moundlic, Olivier Tallec

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent

Moderate: Self harm, Blood

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

challenging dark emotional 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? No

2.0