Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

13 reviews

mckiheather's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Having seen the Netflix show a couple times and finally getting to read it, it’s such a good story because I don’t think there’s really any other story like it and it’s told in such an interesting way. I think the audiobook format also adds to that story telling in a really interesting way.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Grief, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

kensingtonska's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.0

Fuck Klaus.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Child abuse and Alcohol

johannarose's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

themadbloodstone's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Rereading my favorite book series since elementary school for the millionth time and so far it’s just as funny and informative as I remember.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Pedophilia

joisaddler's review against another edition

mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

sallytumbler13's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

_kael_'s review against another edition

My first original review wasn't saved for some reason. This newer version sounds more neutral though lol. Read books 1-7 (I don't remember if I DNF'ed any of the later books I had) and DNF'ed 9 as a kid. From what I remember, I liked the writing style. It made me continue reading. However, the book felt very repetitive. It is a good read if you read one book and stopped there. As you continue, every single book felt the same.

Spoiler

Villain is the same just in disguise, the children protagonists tell someone yet they all don't believe them every, single, time. It's like they don't know disguises existed, and these are adults. Their reactions were so unrealistic I found it stupid. They meet a new character/s and something bad happens to them, the protagonists escape to a new place, then repeat.

It became depressing to read as I continued because of that consistency that I actually stopped reading the series. I felt like the author was depressed or something. I got curious years after as to what happens in the series, if it already ended and what the ending was.

Spoiler

I think I read from Wikipedia that Count Olaf suddenly disappeared, while the protagonists escaped into the sea? And that no one knows what happened to the protagonists. It felt like I read the books for nothing, since it was gonna end that way anyway. It seemed like they wanted to unnecessarily prolong the series.

I suggest watching the 2004 movie instead, also watched it as a kid. It's good if not better than the books, and it covers the first three books in the series. Seeing Jim Carrey makes things less depressing. I haven't watched the 2017 series though, just saw some parts of it. Iirc, they changed some details in certain events from the book I think. 

Conclusions: As I look back, I genuinely don't understand how this is a novel series for kids. I don't think I'll even enjoy this at any age lol. I highly do not recommend this to anyone, unless you're an emo. Or if you like dark stories. It's similar to the movie "The Willoughbys" though I found it more depressing. I'm going to rate this entire series that I did not finish with a 1.5 stars, dark, sad, tense and fast-paced. Just not my cup of tea. I read to escape and feel joy, not to feel sad/even more sad. I only put this as "DNF" because I don't wanna see it in my "Read" list. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent

Just a lot of bad stuff happening to the children protagonists and their confidantes/friends.

moonbin's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, and Incest

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent

kmmiller28's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

lucyselim's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, and Death of parent

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Alcoholism