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daisy03ca's review
4.0
i want the legacy of violence, passed down from generation to generation like an heirloom, to die with us. i don’t want our experiences of violence to be the one thing we have in common with each other.
faircloughliv's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
A brilliant book that tackles all aspects of this issue, I can't recommend it enough. It's brilliantly researched and the fact that it starts with a trigger warning was greatly appreciated.
caits_002's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
beyondthebindings's review against another edition
4.0
This book really made me think about my own experiences and I had some tough realisations along the way. I would say to read this book with caution if you have past sexual or relationship trauma as it can be very triggering and confronting.
I see some reviews saying the book isn't sex or kink positive but that is not the impression I got from this book.
Overall a very well researched and important read, for all people.
I see some reviews saying the book isn't sex or kink positive but that is not the impression I got from this book.
Overall a very well researched and important read, for all people.
bobthebookerer's review against another edition
4.0
'Rough' explores tricky topics around consent and the so-called 'grey areas' of sex and sexuality, and argues powerfully about the need to address them, both through wider societal change and education, and through individual approaches around how we talk about sex and consent.
The book brings in personal stories from a variety of women, and is not easy reading, but it is crucial for understanding what a lack of consent can look like and feel like, and especially what 'grey areas' can look like.
Thompson also investigates how consent can be affected by various power dynamics within wider society, in terms of gender, race (especially stereotypes of women's bodies and perceived 'ownership' of their bodies), and sexuality (bringing in ideas around how lesbians are sometimes seen as existing for a male gaze). This makes for fascinating reading, and I appreciated how she took more of an intersectional lens here.
I think the middle section of the book perhaps lost some of the momentum and thread of the argument started at the beginning, but the end tied it all together again well. Although the book was very intentional in separating BDSM/rough sex and non-consensual sex, occasionally the argument got lost in trying to articulate this difference, and it meant that it was up to the conclusion to clearly re-state and build on the main thrust of the book.
Ultimately, this is an important book about a critical subject, and I think it is insightful reading that many people should take heed of.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book brings in personal stories from a variety of women, and is not easy reading, but it is crucial for understanding what a lack of consent can look like and feel like, and especially what 'grey areas' can look like.
Thompson also investigates how consent can be affected by various power dynamics within wider society, in terms of gender, race (especially stereotypes of women's bodies and perceived 'ownership' of their bodies), and sexuality (bringing in ideas around how lesbians are sometimes seen as existing for a male gaze). This makes for fascinating reading, and I appreciated how she took more of an intersectional lens here.
I think the middle section of the book perhaps lost some of the momentum and thread of the argument started at the beginning, but the end tied it all together again well. Although the book was very intentional in separating BDSM/rough sex and non-consensual sex, occasionally the argument got lost in trying to articulate this difference, and it meant that it was up to the conclusion to clearly re-state and build on the main thrust of the book.
Ultimately, this is an important book about a critical subject, and I think it is insightful reading that many people should take heed of.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
snowiceblackfruit77's review
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment