Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Los peligros de fumar en la cama by Mariana Enríquez

22 reviews

lethargicbat's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.25

I have a minor concussion and covid which I think is to blame for this generous ranking (although one star is solely for The Well). The problem with many of the shorts is that the premise never fully gets off the ground, however I found the potential of an idea in many of them to actually be interesting and something I would of loved to read more on.

A city that traps you with the abused, dead children haunting you—forcing the society that's abandoned them to be confronted by them, to wretch at their smell and be fearful of actually seeing them. A small town's luck going to shit because of the abuse of an outsider and how the family that was kind is saved from this curse but must navigate the growing suspension or paranoia from their neighbors. A ghost manipulating and luring a suicidal woman to entrap her, freeing her spirit while condemning the woman's instead to never find peace. A musician with a cult-like following and the fans behavior being so obsessive still after his death that it lead to cannibalism. A woman with an intense fetish for cardiovascular diseases until it's not enough for them to be dying but instead she must hear and feel their actual deaths.

These are all fascinating and would of been glorious premises for stories but.... None of them actually clicked. None of them gained the momentum they deserve to life it off the ground and be an actual story. Instead, while hacking up phlegm and blood with a 102 fever, I'm laying in bed thinking of what these ideas could of been and appreciating them only as that: ideas.

As short stories they failed in being actual stories. Most failed in feeling developed, in having a conclusion that felt satisfactory, and in providing any real progression in these ideas beyond attempts of using shock or disgust as entertainment. After awhile it gets boring to read about people shitting on sidewalks when you know it's just to trigger an ‘oh ew!’ effect or to read about how apparently every attractive person is bony and too depressed to eat when you know it doesn't add any character flavor or progress. Instead of a written story it felt as if you were in a bar listening to someone who you barely like drunkenly tell you their idea for a book and instead of actually progressing that idea that does have potential, they just add a little padding around it. And then do it again and again, until finally you have this collection.

But, I must repeat myself because I mean it, I really liked the ideas for the most part. The stories go by quick (even if that may be because there isn't much substance to them) and I enjoyed many little lines here and there. But for the most part it failed as a short story collection and the drabbles would of been better as writing prompts, making me ultimately disappointed on something I (maybe unfairly?) hyped up in my head and was excited for ://

Other than The Well. I loved that one immensely, from the premise to the actual execution, and it felt like a personal hate crime until I got to Kids Who Come Back and it actually was one. (/lh)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Excrement, and Alcohol

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Transphobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia

rowanelisa's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

jess_18's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

a lot of this made me really uncomfortable in places, which sometimes felt unnecessary. however it was written very well and was interesting to say the least. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

nefarious_rat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

collection of short stories so character progression and such is difficult, but within each story the characters were distinct and never felt rushed, some of the stories were not to my taste but still very well written, favourites are, our lady of the quarry, the well, the lookout (particularly the characterisation of elina), where are you dear heart (grotesque and delicious my absolute favourite i keep re-reading it), and meat (a very close second favourite for the exact same reasons)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Medical trauma, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

zayzay2's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

one of my fav books, one of the first weird, dark books I read 2023. It had multiple different stories I enjoyed the fact that it was short and got to the point. All very strange characters which was always fun to read, still think about the cannibalism chapter what a weird one but still fun to read. I love strange characters that are talked about, never read a short story collection before this was my first and I'll be reading more short story collection as they are easy to get through. I enjoyed the different setting the writer described, different age groups and that the whole book was In a POC country with different culture to mind which I loved to read about. The only reason it's not a 5/5 is due to me not falling in love with ALL the stories some weren't my favourite but still enjoyable, it took me to a dystopian like world which I enjoyed. A lot of immoral characters and fucked up thoughts they had. Can't really say more, recommend.    

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Cannibalism, and Abandonment

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

This was a quick read. The shorter stories felt like an RL Stine book, but vulgar. "Kids Who Come Back" had unnecessary use of transphobic slurs, but was the longest and most engaging story in the book.
Copious references to and depictions of bodily fluid didn't necessarily add to the horror, but made reading this a bit disgusting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Abandonment

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

brye_wheels's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

anouk_adriana's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

3.25

What the fuck

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

betris's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Trafficking

Moderate: Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

Minor: Eating disorder