Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Notte americana by Marisha Pessl, Marisha Pessl

7 reviews

mxpringle's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

My opinions on this book are very complicated. At the beginning, I loved the format of the story and the plot had me on the edge of my seat. I think the way that Pessl crafted this story was truly masterful in that the reader is never quite sure what the reality is. However, as the book went on, I began to become frustrated with how it felt like nothing had really been uncovered in the investigation that was occurring in the book. I felt like I was being led on. In addition, so much of the book was filled with racism, sexism, and transphobia all perpetrated by the protagonist, whose authority on these matters was never questioned. As a trans person, the demonization of trans women in horror for a simple "creep factor" is getting very archaic, and Pessl's use of that trope disgusted me. In addition, the bizarre and unnecessary romance between the middle aged protagonist and his teenage assistant left me feeling slimy and uncomfortable.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Trafficking, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Mental illness and Medical content

ro_lux's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, and Transphobia

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Racism

nicolinebl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a confusing but intriguing read. Honestly, just calling it that is underselling it; it was definitely an experience. 

I started reading this book two days ago and barely did anything else besides that because I just needed to know how it ended. 

It starts of slow, then it gets really intense for a while but then it takes a turn that I honestly didn't appreciate nor understand and then it changes directions near the end again, leaving me quite puzzled. 

None of the characters in this book seem like nice people, Nora probably being the nicest one and the main character Scott honestly being one of the most annoying characters. There are a lot of characters to keep track of by the way, I started writing them down lol!

There are also a lot of trigger warnings for this book, the one that made me the most upset being transphobic undertones. Not sure if that's the writers prejudice coming through or her showing that her character is transphobic, but I got really pissed at that part.

There were some parts where the writer tried to make things lighter by jokes or "funny" thoughts but in my opinion, they didn't really work. Also some parts - besides supernatural plotlines or course - were a bit unbelievable. Like how Scott was apparently so rich even though he'd been fired from his job and didn't seem to have a great job at the moment. And since he's investigating for like +-7 months and not actually working or something he's only spending money (and spending it like crazy). Nobody has that many spare change right?

Also, an in my opinion unnecessary loveplot near the ending - if you've read the book you know the part. 

Besides that I am still fascinated by this book. I love the mix of mediums: articles, websitepages, documents, photo's etc. and even bonus content on the writers website (definitely check it out, especially the last one!) 

I chose to read this book in October because of Halloween and must admit I was kind of let down, it wasn't that scary and

I hated that they had a whole supernatural plot, then decided to explain it all away and then afterwards sort of went back to the supernatural route.

I will end my review by saying that I do think this story could have been told in less than 600 pages and dragged a little at some parts but I most certainly do no regret reading this story; because at its main core, it did have some intriguing themes and phenomenal aesthetics. And gosh darn, I'm kind of sad that I'm not able to see the movies Cordova has made, him being fictional and all. 

PS: Think this would be awesome in film format so that I could show my brother and friend who will never read a 600-pages book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Trafficking, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug use, Slavery, Vomit, and Alcohol

gloriazthompson's review against another edition

Too creepy and dark. I know I will not be enjoying this reading experience, so decided to stop early on.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Medical content

tessieferro's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

Idiotic plot twist and insufferable narrator/main character (and frankly, a big bigot) 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Suicide

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Transphobia, and Car accident

lilifane's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

I wanted to love this book so much, but it didn’t work. I liked the beginning a lot when the characters were introduced and enjoyed the last 25-30% as well. But the middle part was just … too boring. Every time I thought the story went into an interesting direction, the author chose to stop and go the boring way instead. It was SO frustrating, when intriguing settings/characters/plot points were just abandoned midway. Still, I got attached to the characters and loved their interactions with each other. There were some REALLY cool settings and scenes, and I liked the story in general. I was just disappointed because I had expected more. Especially from the mixed media aspect. The additional pictures, texts and documents were … mostly unnecessary. They didn’t add to my reading experience at all. But that’s what I expect from a book which uses mixed media because I’ve seen it done really well in the past. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

kayewa's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Minor: Child death and Transphobia