Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor

1 review

fool_ofabook's review

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


 Two problems I had with the story:

1. Hope was called a coward in the very FRIKEN beginning, by someone we are encouraged love and root for as the story progresses. It's so toxic.  Hope, the main character not only allows this character to take up residence in her life as one of her friends, she adopts beliefs of herself from the seed this this guy planted; that she's a coward because she deals with phobias and fear. Bullshit. Oh, and somehow her believing such a destructive thing is 'okay' so long as she combats her own cowardice by doing crazy outrageous acts of bravery? Dealing with fear doesnt make you a coward. It makes you a human.

2. The author lacked tact in pre-warning readers of what to expect. And as much as I would like to believe that she was just clever in surprising me, and that the sudden surprises were just meant to demonstrate character development and change of time period, I have to put my foot down. In my opinion, and in my experience as a reader, books will give you little hints of warnings if what you will eventually read will be hard, or intended for an older audience. This is a YA book that read very much (in the beginning) like it was in intended for middle schooler and young teens. No real cursing, no sex, no hints whatsoever that the content would be difficult. It reads very 'safe' and 'light'. But 2 thirds in? BAM, rape. BAM, horrific HORRIFIC abuse. Triggers, triggers, triggers.

 Am I saying authors shouldn't write about such things? Of course not. And people are free to read whatever they want! But I appriciate authors that write with a level of courtesy, and pre-warnings to their readers.

And tact! Sometimes the most heartbreaking or gruesome scenes can be conveyed far greater when the reader is allowed to fill in the blanks NOT be horribly spoon fed every detail.

Nevertheless, I will give credit to the author where it is due: Her writing was strong, I loved many of her other characters, the women were strong/diverse, and the time traveling was on point. 
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