Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Expiation by Ian McEwan

6 reviews

laudee's review against another edition

reflective sad 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

2.5

I had to read this book for school and did not finish it at first because it is just not my favourite genre. Now, preparing for my finals, I listened to the audiobook and have to appreciate the different narrative perspectives and the interesting approach to atonement. However, I could not get myself to really care for any of the characters and the general theme and pace of the book is just not my cup of tea. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

august_ambrosia's review against another edition

5.0

GOOD BOOK!! very nice descriptions and such.... read this for lit class but like. it was rlly interesting either way. wouldnt have normally picked it up n glad i got to read it :) definitely see how it is a classic.

ok edit because i'm deep-diving into this and i think we are SLEEPING on robbie. what A GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!! how he is Turner the entirety of part 2 EXCEPT when he's talking about cecilia. she brings him back to himself.... good lord. and "he wanted a father, and for the same reason, he wanted to be a father. it was common enough, to see so much death and want a child. common, therefore human, and he wanted it all the more. when the wounded were screaming, you dreamed of sharing a little house somewhere, an ordinary life, a family life, connection." ROBBIE YOU DESERVED BETTER i know this is briony speaking in his voice so he might've been an absolute shitbag in real life BUT I WANT TO BELIEVE IT!!!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Abandonment

thinwhiteduke's review against another edition

challenging mysterious sad 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

2.25

Though I can see an interesting story within it, Atonement is a slog to read, with an ending which ruins most of the book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Murder, and War

kiapin28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

paperback_moon's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and War

fruitea's review against another edition

2.0

ok this is a weird one because we actually read the ending chapters as a class but i wasn't paying attention so i've put it as dnf. sorry ms williams it was just infuriating to sit through nearly 2 hours of people reading aloud so monotonously and you never saw me playing solitaire on my phone anyway.
anyway. i did not like this book. evidently. the whole premise seemed so flimsy and i feel like briony's stupidity ignorance was used as a plot device.

besides, i'm sure there's more nuance to police investigations than taking the word of a thirteen year old as infallible. also she wasn't entirely truthful.

 
speaking of briony, she was so annoying. she never grew out of her immaturity, she always played the victim, never taking responsibility for her actions. i get that 13 years old is young to witness such a crime, but also at that age you know not to lie to the police about these things????????? she knew it herself??????? so what was the reason? because i never found any explanation for that. listen briony my dude, you made a mistake, you knew it was a mistake but still did it anyway, and then blame others for the consequences of your own actions. also, it's a pretty forgettable story except for those major plot points. like the middle of the book felt like filler, it didn't add much to the story. briony had no character development either. so basically it's not worth the read, watch the movie instead. keira knightley and james mcavoy redeem it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Rape