Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Perish by LaToya Watkins

10 reviews

editorsel's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

In Perish, we get a look into such a complicated, painful, and tender family portrait that spans generations and cycles of violence within a Black family in Texas.

We follow several different POVs and timelines, and while the writing and storytelling was beautiful, I found the numerous perspectives, coupled with the intricate webs of sodomy and abuse, to be difficult to keep track of, both logistically and emotionally. I found myself wanting to follow certain characters more, and even wanting a bit more resolve for certain plot lines. I think focusing on so many different characters that shared the same threads of abuse in its many forms made it so that each character became only their facet of abuse. 

Overall, though, this book really pushes you to consider the extent to which people deserve forgiveness, what is necessary for yourself and others to heal, and to better understand the complexity of where generational trauma and abuse starts and ends. It’s heavily a character driven book, with little plot outside of that, but certainly an impactful read, but not an easy or enjoyable read, personally. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence

grantscheppler's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Dementia

arguhlincozzi's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Amazing but extremely painful book, even though it's all handled with care by the author. Important book.

voodoolobster's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment

booklovertamisha's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Mental illness

amholt11's review

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Abortion

brunonadamas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

opalescenttreeshark's review

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

sarahjsnider's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.5

This book is very well written and planned. I admire authors who skillfully withhold information and reveal it at the right time, and this author is excellent at this. And that’s why I didn’t give up on this because the characters have so much trauma. Escapist, this is not.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, and Abortion

Moderate: Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Self harm, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Racial slurs

chrisiant's review

challenging dark emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

Holy shit this book is grim. It’s a deep dive into intergenerational trauma and it is Heavy. I don’t regret reading it, but definitely check the content warnings first. Wow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Abortion

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Terminal illness