Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

39 reviews

inquesoitrust's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I am kicking myself for not picking this book up years ago. This was a great companion to The Shining. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Torture, and Kidnapping

gyroshrike's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Pedophilia and Pandemic/Epidemic

It's not enacted by the characters themselves, but there is deep antisemitism and anti Romani stereotypes embedded in the depictions of the antagonists. I wouldn't be surprised if the author didn't consciously or intentionally put it there, but wow it is THERE. Heavy spoilers, but nothing for the ending:

The villains have a history of being nomadic and "travelling in caravans and on camels" back in Europe, they kidnap and essentially devour children, referred to as monsters or inhuman, they are rich and have centuries of wealth stashed away. They are in the police force and even in politics if I remember correctly, in a way that allows them to evade persecution from the law.

All of these are very old and well documented stereotypes. Combine this with them spending much of the story

pursing blonde haired, blue eyed characters and you have a very unfortunate depiction of the classic "scary Jew tries to steal and eat the blonde, white/Christian child"

motifs in your story.

pixelpigeon's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really fun sequel to The Shining! If you liked that book I do recommend this one.

Stephen King does have a weird fixation on describing his female characters boobs though and it makes me uncomfortable every time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent

mostly_present's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Torture

Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Violence, and Vomit

tomususan's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad slow-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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

b444bsie's review

stephen king is a proper weirdo

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Rape

lecheeese's review

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, and Pedophilia

mainereading's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I was nervous about there being a sequel to The Shining, considering it's been so long since it came out. I worried it wouldn't do the first book justice, but I had no reason to be nervous because it ended up being an excellent sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol

travisppe's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

2.75

King relies on some well worn tropes (and they don’t always land) but he knows how to tell a compelling story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

bill_eye's review

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

This book was a fantastic read as someone who was obsessed with the shining I can't believe how long it took me to read the sequel. I was invested in the story the full time and even though I felt like the final battle went a little too easy I felt like it still showed how cocky the villain was it was still very believable which I loved. This book was marvelous and would 100% recommend to others! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Child abuse

Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death and Drug use

My moderate tags are things that aren't too graphic but is mentioned multiple times throughout the book also the racial slur is a part of someones nickname