Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

9 reviews

tamzy6's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

You know what, this book reminds me of A Little Life, like trauma porn set in the natural world. As a reader you got to have a certain detachment as you read it because there are some unfathomable scenes that make you go "whaaaaat?!?!?" I was grossed out yet intrigued, and that shows how Tallent is a tallented writer (haha).

I love love love his prose and his writing style. He has a frightening way of making violence, in all its forms, seem so seductive. 

Anyway I've also entered many tags under graphic

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kellyofcali's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

I rapidly consumed this book, which is heart-wrenchingly dark and awful, but very well written and you just keep reading hoping that it's going to get better (I won't say whether this want comes to be). It is really, really tough, so you have to be up for that kind of horrific material, but I found myself quickly entangled in the characters and story.

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schadmad's review against another edition

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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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klstock_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.25


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vinnyvince's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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capgoc's review against another edition

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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

3.5

Look, the writing is phenomenal and I didn't want to put it down. But often I had to. Set it down and walk away. Do a lap of the house. Skip ahead to make sure things are okay, and then reading back. I'm not sure I'm glad this is in my brain now. In some way, I wish I could take it all out. Men are so scary, bro. Damn. 

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rainb0wreads's review against another edition

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

1.0

Look man, i try to be so nice when it comes to my reviews, but this is genuinely one of the most disgusting books ive ever read. It’s not even the relationship dynamic between Turtle and her dad that disgusts me, it’s simply the way that the author has written turtle and her experiences. It’s like the guy is trying to romanticize sexual assault and it’s gross. Not only that, but he victimized turtle in a way that tries the take all the blame from her assaulter and make it seem like it’s simply because that’s just how Turtle is. AND (yep I’m still going) the writing is so convoluted. The author writes like he assumes everyone knows exactly what he’s talking about. It feels like a research dump so he could get a load of fancy words in there and feel smarter than everyone. Strangely the writing makes the story feel like it’s geared towards men…which makes the whole conversation EVEN WORSE!! Look, if you’re gonna write about the abuse of a 14 year old girl, please do it right. This book had so much potential, and it touched on a lot of good mental health topics in light of abuse, but it’s still making turtle romanticize her assault which victims DO NOT DO!! I’m honestly shocked this book is so well liked. There are so many problems with it.

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rani's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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

5.0


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