Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Perish by LaToya Watkins

12 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

nicoleisalwaysreading's review

challenging 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

a haunting, horrific story of abuse and the way it repeats itself and echoes through a family. It’s well-written with complex characters, but the content was very hard to stomach, especially towards the end (as in, I literally felt sick the last 50 pages or so) another note is that it became very confusing to keep track of the family members because their voices were not very distinct 

I didn’t feel that it resolved itself narratively and the shock ending felt ridiculous. It’s just hard because the story of trauma and potential healing/breaking free of generational patterns is important, but this story left me feeling hopeless

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

every. single. content. warning.

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

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

lifewithjoce's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

herwellreadlife's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, and Death of parent

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

jdalet's review

challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Infidelity, and Abortion