Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Expiation by Ian McEwan

27 reviews

rochelleisreading's review against another edition

sad fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

euannn900's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

5.0

This book is gorgeous and stunning. You can't help but feel like you are there along with Briony and Robbie and Cecilia. It makes you feel everything, from anger to anxiety to just overwhelming sadness, and the ending rips your heart right out of your chest and everything you thought you knew out of your head, all at once. Everyone should read this book before they die, at least once.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and War

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Sexual content

karls_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Dementia, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, and Medical trauma

maess's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

thebookishpersuasion's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

Minor: Confinement

milenasbooknook's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Medical content, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

kiwialexa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and War

madzie's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, and War

Moderate: Toxic relationship

lostinthelibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

5.0

This is one of the best character study books I have ever read. The characters all do things on the scale from questionable to awful but they are so well developed that you understand their multi-layered motivations. 

The atmosphere is also incredibly immersive whether in a sleepy summer country house, a busy hospital or the banks of Dunkirk. Each setting is powerfully evoked in, at times, uncomfortable ways and this combined with the characterisation, really put you in the perspective of the characters. 

Finally, the writing was just so perfectly crafted and changed throughout the book to mirror the characters and their perspectives. Descriptive sections were used sparingly but effectively and it was overall a joy to read.

A worthy classic and my first 5 star book of the year!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault

lily_eames's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

I went into this book with high hopes and the goal of being of virtuous and reading the book before watching the movie. I have to say, it was a tough read. It’s written in an extremely, almost painfully detailed style and it is incredibly slow paced. I definitely almost DNF’ed during the war chapters. However, I really enjoyed the first part of the book and was absolutely heartbroken by the end. Briony hater for life! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Rape