Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Los peligros de fumar en la cama by Mariana Enríquez

122 reviews

elwirax's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.5

I genuinely do not understand why this was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It also took me way too long to read despite being a short story collection. 

These short stories highlighted many real life horrors in the world such as pedophilia, child trafficking and rape, suicide and self harm. While I tend to enjoy sociopolitical horror, the way certain themes were explored felt less like thoughtful commentary and more like shock value. 

The stories were packed with misogyny and 'kids who come back' used problematic transphobic language. I suppose that this was used as a tool to present bias and prejudice as a horror of the world and highlighted the idea that the narrator's are just as 'monstrous' as the events happening. I am not insinuating that these are the author's beliefs, merely that it can be harmful to readers. 

Overall, not a very good literary horror collection, either in terms of plot or writing. 

Angelita Unearthed: 2 stars
Our Lady of the Quarry:1 star
The Cart: 1 star
The Well: 2.5 stars
Rambla Triste: 2 stars
The Lookout: 2.5 stars
Where are you , dear heart: 1 star
Meat: 2 stars
No birthdays or baptisms: 1 star
Kids who come back: 0.5 star
The dangers of smoking in bed: 1 star
Back when we talked to the dead: 3 stars

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, and Excrement

Minor: Sexual content, Transphobia, and Trafficking

laran_s's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, and Trafficking

gnomeyjo's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I love magical realism, but this book really pushed me. Was extremely unsettling, even if you love horror. Defo an interesting read and I respect the commitment to the style. One story in particular has really stayed with me and continues to disturb me at random pockets of my day. A very well written book that lives up to the high praise, but difficult to say enjoyable.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

An extreme level of content warnings needed.

sharkgirl45's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Amazingly spooky and haunting story collection. Every story had me at the very least disconcerted.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Excrement, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, and Murder

maggiew11's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, and Medical content

Moderate: Death, Blood, and Vomit

witcheep's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

kalyaniwarrier's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

A collection of short stories - brutal, visually horrifying and violent, Mariana Enriquez's The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is an exaggerated reality of the world that is not for the faint-hearted.

Ranging from violence to drug use to pedophilia, the novella covers harsh topics that reflect the dark truths of Buenos Aires and the inevitable dangers that start with smoking in bed. 

Caution advised; refer to trigger warnings before reading.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gore, Pedophilia, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Kidnapping and Alcohol

bookforestsprite's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Ive never read anything like this.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy

apthompson's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail