Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Bunny by Mona Awad

3 reviews

mybestfriendsarefictional's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

What kind of a fever dream was that, Bunny?

Clueless meets Mean Girls meets a really bad trip, I could not put this down. Compulsive, claustrophobic, compelling and downright bizarre. I loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kijatai's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.5

This was actually the first audio book I ever finished. I started listening to it while on a walk and then I couldn’t get it out of my bed and finished it during the night. 

I really liked the narrator, Sophie Amoss. I felt like I was in the head of the main character when she was narrating and I could easily picture all the different characters by the voices she used. Her voice is also soothing. 

As for the story itself, I loved it.  What I actually enjoyed about it was the psychology of the main character and the depiction of creative block and the depression that can be linked to it.  I’m an artist and I could relate to some things she said. How we can feel like an impostor sometimes and feel blocked or not good enough and then craving a connection to others to get out of our self-made isolation but also not wanting to. 

I liked how all Sam’s emotions : fear, uncertainty, desires… were represented. Without spoiling anything, I interpreted the rituals depicted (please check content warnings) in the book more as a representation of creativity and desire. And I thought it was really interesting. 

It has strong dark academia vibes. Which I’m a sucker for. I like also exploring the mentality and struggles behind cults and this book definitely and intimately explores that. It has mean girl vibes and it was nice to see how the author explores the meaning of sisterhood, girlhood, love and desires. 

The relationship between Ava and Sam was what kept me hooked. I hoped for more to be honest but I won’t spoil too much. I guess that their relationship is… complex. 

I’m definitely gonna get a physical copy, re-read it and annotate the hell out of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

tillynancy's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship