Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

28 reviews

yilliun's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

Let’s start with the good things: Tallent does a wonderful job of making you feel like you are THERE with the characters and can construct beautiful scenes through his EXTREMELY descriptive writing style. Sometimes I felt like I was walking with Turtle through the woods and on the beach.

The not so good: this book lacked the nuance necessary to approach the topics of child abuse and incest. 

Much of the time it felt like the author was writing from a totally different perspective than a 14 year old girl’s. I think there was a good story here, but there wasn’t enough compassion for Turtle. I understand that Tallent tried to walk the line between the deep care and fear Turtle held for her father. In the instances where we are immersed in Turtle’s stream of consciousness, Tallent excels at illustrating how the abuse permeates all aspects of Turtle’s life. He misses the mark more often than not. Specifically, the use of the word “pussy” for a 14 year old’s vagina is wholly inappropriate. It slants the scenes away from abuse and towards the experience being sexually gratifying (which is sadistic in its own way). Because of these scenes, I almost DNF’d this book. The twist ending did suck me back in.

I do think it was a satisfying ending to have Turtle kill Martin, her father. Turtle living with Anna in the end felt very Matilda/ Miss Honey dynamic to me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

There are multiple graphic depictions of incest and physical abuse.

jae_lou's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

cms28's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

kkay27's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

hat2daback's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment

clara_dalstein's review

challenging dark emotional

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Abandonment

schadmad's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

orb_20's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

dannybrown59's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

Wow. Its hard to describe this book. It was beautifully written and just heartbreaking. I absolutely loved Turtle. The ending wasn't bad and I know it left questions for a reason I just wanted more. To know Turtle was going to be okay. I'll probably update my review later because I'm having a lot of thoughts about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

laaneorg's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail