Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Expiation by Ian McEwan

17 reviews

akgrantmatz's review against another edition

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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Very well written, and a unique story. 

 

Knocks because I don't appreciate the character development of the narrator, because although she talks about atonement and being a better person, she only makes horrible decisions and goes back to her central flaw as a person.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

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

blackfaefables's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

I'm so glad I decided to pick this book up again. The beautiful descriptive writing, the detailed historical fiction, and captivating slow-burn romance at the center were definitely the highlights of this read. 

I felt like an English major again as I tried to predict the trajectory of the story using the many beautiful uses of literary devices throughout. 

I highly recommend. it's more slow paced than medium paced to me but in a good way I think. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and War

Moderate: Rape

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

augie_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

debbiesummers's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma

livruther's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

I think the book could have become an entirely new level of impactful if the cast of characters was more diverse. I hated the narration in the first part, and I thought most of the second part was boring, but I enjoyed the third and fourth parts. I thought the imagery of the soldiers in the hospital was really gripping. I thought the part with Luc was really sweet. I also really loved the character of Robbie. Even though it made me angry and sad, I thought the ending was really well done, and it is definitely a book that has stuck with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Dementia

Minor: Death, Rape, and Grief

louisebeereading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

Superb book. A challenging read exploring the far reaching consequences of a child's overactive imagination coupled with conviction and witnessing a crime. Set before and during WWII, McEwan masterfully explores multiple POVs both female and male. Would recommend highly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Cursing, Death, Incest, Blood, Dementia, and Classism

tillyfish's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-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, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Vomit