Reviews tagging 'Lesbophobia'

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

12 reviews

lethargicbat's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.25

I have a minor concussion and covid which I think is to blame for this generous ranking (although one star is solely for The Well). The problem with many of the shorts is that the premise never fully gets off the ground, however I found the potential of an idea in many of them to actually be interesting and something I would of loved to read more on.

A city that traps you with the abused, dead children haunting you—forcing the society that's abandoned them to be confronted by them, to wretch at their smell and be fearful of actually seeing them. A small town's luck going to shit because of the abuse of an outsider and how the family that was kind is saved from this curse but must navigate the growing suspension or paranoia from their neighbors. A ghost manipulating and luring a suicidal woman to entrap her, freeing her spirit while condemning the woman's instead to never find peace. A musician with a cult-like following and the fans behavior being so obsessive still after his death that it lead to cannibalism. A woman with an intense fetish for cardiovascular diseases until it's not enough for them to be dying but instead she must hear and feel their actual deaths.

These are all fascinating and would of been glorious premises for stories but.... None of them actually clicked. None of them gained the momentum they deserve to life it off the ground and be an actual story. Instead, while hacking up phlegm and blood with a 102 fever, I'm laying in bed thinking of what these ideas could of been and appreciating them only as that: ideas.

As short stories they failed in being actual stories. Most failed in feeling developed, in having a conclusion that felt satisfactory, and in providing any real progression in these ideas beyond attempts of using shock or disgust as entertainment. After awhile it gets boring to read about people shitting on sidewalks when you know it's just to trigger an ‘oh ew!’ effect or to read about how apparently every attractive person is bony and too depressed to eat when you know it doesn't add any character flavor or progress. Instead of a written story it felt as if you were in a bar listening to someone who you barely like drunkenly tell you their idea for a book and instead of actually progressing that idea that does have potential, they just add a little padding around it. And then do it again and again, until finally you have this collection.

But, I must repeat myself because I mean it, I really liked the ideas for the most part. The stories go by quick (even if that may be because there isn't much substance to them) and I enjoyed many little lines here and there. But for the most part it failed as a short story collection and the drabbles would of been better as writing prompts, making me ultimately disappointed on something I (maybe unfairly?) hyped up in my head and was excited for ://

Other than The Well. I loved that one immensely, from the premise to the actual execution, and it felt like a personal hate crime until I got to Kids Who Come Back and it actually was one. (/lh)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Excrement, and Alcohol

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Transphobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

nefarious_rat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

collection of short stories so character progression and such is difficult, but within each story the characters were distinct and never felt rushed, some of the stories were not to my taste but still very well written, favourites are, our lady of the quarry, the well, the lookout (particularly the characterisation of elina), where are you dear heart (grotesque and delicious my absolute favourite i keep re-reading it), and meat (a very close second favourite for the exact same reasons)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Medical trauma, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sheshallbenamed's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Lesbophobia

alreinwarth's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Transphobia and Lesbophobia

introverted_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Excrement, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Incest, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

merries's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Individual ratings:
Angelita Unearthed - 4 stars.
Our Lady of the Quarry - 4.5 stars.
The Cart - 3 stars.
The Well - 3.5 stars.
Rambla Triste - 3.5 stars.
The Lookout - 4 stars.
Where Are You, Dear Heart? - 5 stars.
Meat - 5 stars.
No Birthdays or Baptisms - 4 stars.
Kids Who Come Back - 4 stars.
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed - 5 stars.
Back When We Talked to the Dead - 4 stars.
Average Rating - 4 stars.
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A series of stories I can only describe as grotesque. The writer’s use of selfishness and gain through self-gratification throughout is an interesting analysis point. My 5 star stories are stories I could truly describe as “perfect”, but the anthology as a whole was enjoyable throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia

mimithorp's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

As with lots of short story collection, it's a real mixed bag. Some very good, some not so. A lot of unnecessary slurs which was a real bother. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Transphobia and Lesbophobia

akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.75

I think this is a really interesting collection of short stories. They all have very common themes like female sexuality, witchcraft, smells (which I thought was particularly interesting), children/childhood, mass hysteria/fanaticism, and religion. 

While some stories are better than others, I think they’re all a good read! My top three are:
1. Where Are You, Dear Heart?
2. Meat
3. Kids Who Come Back
With a special mention to Angelita. 

I feel that perhaps a study guide of sorts would help understand the symbolism of the stories, but honestly they’re all really good and I enjoyed all of them to a degree. 

TRIGGER WARNING:
Be warned though: most stories contain some element of child abuse/pedophilia/forced incest/child prostitution/etc. 
“kids who come back” contains some transphobic and lesbophobic slurs/characteristics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Body horror, Drug abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol