voodoolobster's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Child death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Incest, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Self harm, and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Abortion, Violence, Drug abuse, Bullying, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Dementia, and Self harm
amholt11's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Animal death, Incest, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Abortion, and Blood
brunonadamas's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcohol, Death, Abandonment, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Animal death, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, and Animal cruelty
opalescenttreeshark's review
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Incest, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
jdalet's review
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Incest, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Abortion, Infidelity, and Drug use
d0505's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Sexual violence, Self harm, Infertility, Rape, Emotional abuse, Incest, Blood, Animal death, Sexual assault, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
serendipitysbooks's review
- 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
4.5
Perish is a debut novel that really packs a punch and ripped my heart open. It opens with the Helen Jean, the family matriarch, on her death bed and family members gathering to say their goodbyes. But it immediately becomes clear that there are lots of complicated feelings, this isn’t a close united family, and Helen isn’t exactly beloved by all. The novel then unfolds in different time periods and from varying points of view, slowly revealing, layer by layer, the family history. And much of it is a dark history involving the legacy of abuse, inter-generational trauma and the cyclical nature of abuse. As such it is a difficult and confronting read. If child sexual abuse is a trigger this book may not be for you.
The writing was stellar. My heart broke for what the characters had borne, even as I wanted to rail against them for their own actions. I really appreciated the nuanced way the book explored the issue of children who are abused and then go on to abuse others. Another thing this book did so well was to highlight the harm done by silence and secrets and pretending not to see, harm done to both the victims and perpetrators of abuse. The fact that this story ended with openness and honesty, with talking and sharing, gave it an element of hope for me, a very welcome glimmer given the tough and confronting subject matter.
Graphic: Incest, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Miscarriage and Animal death
kaitsteak's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Rape, Child abuse, Animal death, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Child death and Drug abuse
Minor: Addiction and Animal cruelty
carodonahue's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Incest
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, and Abortion