Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Die Zeuginnen by Monika Baark, Margaret Atwood

68 reviews

nicekweenreads's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I could not put this book down. Each character was so well built, her personality shining through in her own chapters amazingly. Aunt Lydia's were full of lies and manipulation. Agnes's were more innocent and prious. Daisy's chapters were filled to the brim with teenage confusion and rebelliousness. 

This book builds upon its predecessor's world with glorious detail. How does one become an aunt? Where do they live? Whay happens to daughters of commanders? How does Mayday work?

We finally have answers to these questions from the Handmaid's Tale. I think in someways, it can undo the since of dread the the ending The Handmaid's Tale left, but that isn't a bad thing. The core theme of the book is hope and hope it does leave. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Minor: Trafficking, War, and Rape

irisandfoxglove's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I found the book really engaging and an enjoyable read. I’ll note it works really well as an audiobook, which isn’t always the case.

Spoiler

I don’t understand why Becca met the fate that she did. Also, I cried when they mentioned the statue with the forget me nots at the end. She is a character I was sad to not see more development of, especially when reading the secret files. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Torture, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Child death, and Emotional abuse

theimposter's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Incest, Suicide, Death, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Confinement, and Classism

tigerkind's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Classism, Child abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child death, Gore, Infidelity, Cancer, Incest, Murder, Abandonment, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cursing, and Excrement

Minor: Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Vomit, War, Trafficking, Alcohol, and Mass/school shootings

kateburgers's review against another edition

inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Police brutality, and Suicide

Minor: Gore, Miscarriage, Violence, Hate crime, Rape, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Abortion, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry

aliciapiron's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, Sexual content, and War

dev921's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, War, Child death, Cursing, Incest, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Infertility, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cancer, and Injury/Injury detail

rholmes16's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, War, and Death

skyeson2187's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Rape

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I decided to read this book because I read the first book for 100 books to read in your lifetime. The first book was brutal so I knew what I was getting myself into. When I finished The Handmaid’s Tale and I saw that she had wrote a second book about these characters, I was instantly intrigued. This book slightly confused me but I just want to give all these characters a hug and therapy.  

This book is still based around The Republic of Gilead and it is beginning to rot from within. At the crucial moment, two girls with radically different experiences of the regime come face to face with the legendary and ruthless Aunt Lydia. But how far will each go for what she believes? The three points of views are Aunt Lydia who is known for being the scary and strict leader, Agnes who is a young woman who has just joined the Gilead and Daisy, a young woman living in Canada.  

I had high expectations for this book and I felt like it fell a bit flat. I think there was a lot of pressure that she had to do well because of how good The Handmaid’s Tale is. I liked The Handmaid’s Tale because of the singular point of view of Offred. Then tension and the buildup. I usually love multiple POVs but with the jumps of location and what was happening, it was very confusing and chaotic. I was hoping this was from Offred’s point of view especially with how the first book ended. I don’t think this really added anything to the first book. 
 

I enjoyed the mystery of this book and the Baby Nicole side of it. I wished this book had stayed with the point of view of Agnes. I felt like her character was so good and I wanted so much from her. Especially with her journey as a young woman and being forced to marry someone she had no interest in being. It shows another point of view from Offred and how one willing comes to Gilead. I loved seeing Aunt Lydia again and seeing how she became the villain in the first book. I would have loved to have seen more of the Pearl Girls; I think that side of the story was interesting at times. 

Was this book needed? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Was it a difficult read? Yes.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Misogyny

Moderate: Pedophilia, Death, and Suicide attempt