Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

4 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-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

Tons of triggers to be aware of first. The summary is insufficient. There is a lot of sexual violence and PTSD. I don’t consider these spoilers, but women, especially, need to know these are a big part of the story before deciding if they are going to read it.

I’ve read Roxane Gay’s before. I know from her other books the traumas she’s shared, and the whole time, it felt like she might’ve been working through some of her own trauma. It was impossible to read the book without feeling compassion and sorrow for her. It was equal parts deeply emotionally brutal to read as well as beautiful to see how Mirielle mends her way back to life. And other than Michael, Glen, and Victor, I think I hated every man in the book. In the end, I closed the book full of hope for her (both Mirielle and for the author) and grateful to Lorraine and Mona.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

atharp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

First off don’t read this book without checking trigger warnings. It is not for the light hearted. This book will make you uncomfortable and break you apart. It is heartbreaking but so incredible.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

taylorlanxon's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

scientist's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Oof, this book hits hard. So well written and well developed, but the subject matter is just difficult. The author does an amazing job of following the main character’s development through her kidnapping and after. Gay is more known for her essays, but she obviously has mastered the art of fiction as well. I continue my admiration for the author and will continue to read my way through her work, although because of the difficult subject matter, I’m not sure I would reread this particular book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy