Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

La piena. Blackwater by Michael McDowell

4 reviews

elixierbroth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Intriguing. Read because of the covers intriguing me enough to look up the writer, who intrigued me, and the plot, which was intriguing, and the number of reviews I read that could be summerized as 'Came to the series for the supernatural elements, stayed for the family drama!', which I found intriguing and rather appealing. 
For the amount of times I used 'intriguing' in that paragraph, the book is joyfully un-mysterious. And you know what, I think I prefer it this way!

in short, something fucked up lives in the Perdido river, decides to use the cover of a flood to crawl into town and join a fucked up Perdido family, and...things just go on from there? Sometimes one even forgets there's something supernatural going on because you know what??? ELINOR SEEMS AS INVESTED IN THE PETTY FAMILY DRAMA AS EVERYONE ELSE!!

I will give the next book a go too. I like how McDowell writes, and it was a fast read, and mainly because, there are no heroes. Everyone in town's got their little thoughts and feelings that drive them to act in certain ways

some eat the neighbourhood kids when they're spotted using the local whirlpool like its a teacup ride, others decide their sons can't take their baby daughter to his own house!

and many other better reviews have gone into the family dynamics, but it's left up to you to decide who's the real monster here. Or to not! I preferred sitting back and just following along. Because, in the way of hearing about your crazy neighbours that you never talk to...I do still want to know what Mary-Love, and Elinor, and Oscar, and Zaddie, and Grace, and James, and Bray, and sister....are all gonna do next. 

It's fucked up, that's what.

A final thought based on my own special folklorist interests...I could actually see my way to an essay arguing that Blackwater is a retelling of the story of Melusine. But I will have to come back to that thought a couple of books later!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Pregnancy

Minor: Abandonment

it's set in the deep south in the nineteen fifties with a River monster that eats people and focusing on emotionally incestuous/controlling rich white family so like. Actually from that description it's not That bad, but knowing it going in does help.

jelenwalker's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Primer llibre de la saga Blackwater, és bàsicament una presentació de la situació, però és molt interessant i atrapa des de les primeres pàgines! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Racism, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism

atalea's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Death, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

silverraine's review against another edition

mysterious slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Car accident, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent