Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Gerald's Game by Stephen King

12 reviews

goldenluck's review

challenging dark tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

How I described this to my partner immediately after finishing: it was fine. Jessie is not the worst "woman written by a man" I've ever read, but far from the best. The tension, gore, and horror were compelling and well written. The build up, reveal, and aftermath of her childhood trauma was, for the most part, well done. 

In my opinion, this should have been a short story. Cut out the moonlight man, make the dog the big bad, when she escapes have her realize she and the dog are both victims of man trying to survive and come to peace with that. Or, if you want to include the monster, make him 1) a violator of women not men and 2) LET HER KILL HIM. 

The symbology of Jessie's trauma in regards to sexual assault and misogyny was mostly well done up until the monster and all it's fall out, then it completely fell apart. If he had been able to carry it through, it would have been much better and a much more satisfying albeit dark climax. I just get the feeling that King chickened out in the end, which is so disappointing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

kingkoala's review against another edition

I don’t like how King organized the first chapter. Maybe his writing is different throughout the book, but I doubt it. He will pause mid conversation to do a flash back to a different conversation. It draws me out of the flow of the scene and he will also over describes the scenes like there was nearly two pages worth of description of the husbands smile. Then the smile would change and he would do it again. 
The biggest reason I dropped the book was a lot of it feels misogynistic. I don’t mean the setting but the actual lines give off a very negative vibe towards women, and it makes it hard to reads. One example of such line is “yessir, boys, hyuck, hyuck, hyuck, you ain’t really had pussy until you’ve had pussy that’s jumpin around underneath you like a hen on a hot griddle”. And that isn’t a line given by a character, it was said by the narrator, whom I’m led to believe is King. Before then there were other lines that gave me a bad vibe but that was really hard to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

matxoni's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

4.0

potser ben mirat seria més aviat un 3,5 si he de valorar l'història en net però m'ha sorprès tant que no puc posar-li menys que això. buscava un llibre que em fes passar por i n'he passat, però el que més m'ha impressionat és el relat que fa d'aquesta por; la forma en què t'acompanya l'angoixa, la tensió i la desesperació pero també l'alleujament i la tranquil·litat final. tot això comptant que l'argument durant bona part de la novel·la es basa en el fet que la protagonista es troba lligada a un llit. aquest senyor sap el que fa.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

kreglow's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

r_o_s_e's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Cursing, Excrement, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

ajg2289's review

dark sad slow-paced

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

1.0

This was my first Stephen King novel and will be my last. He uses the word “cunt” in a really obnoxious way and he seems to be darkly fascinated by children and sexuality and exploiting them in that way. Making up horrific stories and scenarios and describing them in the most dense, pointless way. DO NOT RECOMMEND. 
The twist at the end was laughable and had nothing to do with the story prior the last 40 pages. Terrible.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

nicole_cob_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

clapyourshands's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

joshoonet's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Car accident

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Alcohol

btrz7's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis