Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Animal by Lisa Taddeo

121 reviews

britneyb's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

laura_sotillos's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

3.75

It took me a while to get into the book because I wasn’t reading it at the right time for me. I’d read The Guest by Emma Cline and Bunny by Mona Awad right before this one and all 3 have the same type of character: a young(ish) woman who is or was abused and becomes a rag doll for men as a consequence. They don’t seem to have desires other than survival until the book is relatively advanced, which is when I started enjoying all 3. I thought it was written very well, with a lot of gut punching observations. Would recommend if you’re in the right state of mind - in a positive place in life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Dementia

liliki17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Terminal illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Vomit

kaylac4's review against another edition

dark fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

liltinylatke's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

This is one of the most phenomenal pieces of writing I’ve read in a while. I search endlessly for the perfect book, the perfect style of writing, and I found both in this novel. The story is deeply concerning and strange. Experiencing Joan’s life of pain and trauma alongside her felt arduous. I can see similarities between Lisa Taddeo and Ottessa Moshfegh — the way they write their flawed characters with such specific characteristics and thoughts that are absolutely bizarre to the reader but perfectly normal to the character. Their descriptions of people and the things around them are so specific and entirely unrelatable. This is a hard story to get through, and I can’t wait to read all of Taddeo’s work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

josiemorrison's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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

3.5

Wtf 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Murder

jadiedaffodil's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

rebeccadiv's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This rating doesn't necessarily stem from the quality of the writing, but of my experience reading it. It was often hard to be slipping in and out of memories so often which connected but then also felt confusing. I understand what the author was trying to do but the book often felt so fragmented that I would question the intent of parts. I am not one to shy away from graphic scenes or writing, but at times certain scenes felt graphic just to be so. It's unfortunate because I was really excited for this book but it just didn't work for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Animal cruelty and Pedophilia

kaatesob's review against another edition

challenging tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

citybound13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

2.5

This was the hardest to read book I’ve ever encountered and I’ve read some very gruesome and scary books. Be kind to yourself while reading this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment