Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down

11 reviews

caitlinokeeffewhite's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

clarezillaa's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Child death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

Moderate: Abortion and Grief

Minor: Death of parent

smedette's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

karabeavis's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad tense 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

4.25

Maggie/Josie/Holly is the protagonist of this epic tale from 4 yrs of age to 60. Author Jennifer Down said she wanted to explore two things in this novel: foster kids in the out—of—home—care system and a woman who goes missing. Both are written very well particularly the OOHC era. 

We meet Holly as a 60–year—old who has a quiet life with friends, a job and her dog in America. I think it’s interesting to start there and look back on the experiences of someone with profound trauma from childhood. Author Down says the book is about survivorship. Such are the tragedies and adversity in Holly’s life that frankly it is amazing that she’s not dead. 

This is a tale of starting over, again and again, with a new name, in a new town and with a new relationship/s. Who are we in relation to our trauma? Is it our identity or can we escape it? It’s also about the reliability of trauma—impacted memory, especially when it comes to a police investigation in the middle of the book. 

There is a lot tackled here and some of the extra trauma events that happen: the one great foster carer having a stroke, for example, did seem almost too much? There’s also a question of ethics of writing other people’s stories. The novel is fiction but based on true survival stories in the foster care system in Australia in the 70s and 80s. We discussed this at the bookclub. A compelling and ambitious read. Thank you to the author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Abandonment

ecconway's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Pregnancy

balfies's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

It's been said before but good grief. This is an excellent book with truly gut wrenching, revealing prose, and it is also deeply, deeply sad. Incredibly bleak and richly emotive story about the trauma of the foster system and how state violence fails women and children. If you're thinking of reading this one, have a fun book lined up afterwards, and know that it hits every trigger warning under the sun. But I must emphasise: this was very deserving of the Miles Franklin, and is an incredible piece of literature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Violence

narpetcards's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Adult/minor relationship, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Abortion, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

sezzler's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child death, Grief, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Pedophilia

novelspots's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion

Minor: Death of parent

jouljet's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Abortion, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault