triniparade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Fatphobia, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Sexism, Addiction, Suicide, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Infertility
Minor: Colonisation and Xenophobia
whitelotusreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
Graphic: Classism and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
aifosaana_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Ableism, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Colonisation, and Abortion
Minor: Forced institutionalization
However old-fashioned and closed-minded this novel can be, it is worth reading for anyone who wants to ask themselves how much of their thoughts are truly theirs. Even if your interest is a historic one, it is interesting as wellyellow_star's review against another edition
The little boy getting in trouble for not wanting to have child sex, as a preteen child myself at the time I read this, was deeply disturbing. I'd caution you to recommend this only to older teens (though of course if they choose to read this themselves that's another matter as smart kids will drop it if it becomes too much.)
Of course this is still unsettling to older readers, but it shouldn't be traumatizing to most people 15+. The unsettled feeling instead should make you consider government control of a population and how much is too much, and if you think a little creatively you can apply the novel to make connections of companies and governments and stalker peers spying on you and trying to control you in the modern era.
The book just isn't for me because I was too upset by that first reading. If you can't emotionally get through political commentary dystopia books then this probabl isn't a great fit.
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, and Torture
witchhenrietta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Ableism, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Transphobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Colonisation, Addiction, and Biphobia
gabriella_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Spoiler
That was when science first began to be controlled—after the Nine Years’ War. People were ready to have even their appetites controlled then. Anything for a quiet life. We’ve gone on controlling ever since. It hasn’t been very good for truth, of course. But it’s been very good for happiness. One can’t have something for nothing. Happiness has got to be paid for. You’re paying for it, Mr. Watson—paying because you happen to be too much interested in beauty. I was too much interested in truth; I paid too.Spoiler
There was a silence. In spite of their sadness—because of it, even; for their sadness was the symptom of their love for one another—the three young men were happy.Graphic: Kidnapping, Body shaming, Addiction, Death, Violence, Suicide, Rape, Mental illness, Grief, Deportation, Colonisation, Confinement, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Cursing, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Body horror, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Blood, and Ableism
emersonseyeball's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Racism, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Addiction, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Cursing, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Classism, Confinement, Murder, Ableism, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Rape, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
jenna_justi2004's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Rape, Pregnancy, Slavery, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Abortion, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexism, and Torture
qqjj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness
milenasbooknook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Graphic: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide and Violence
Minor: Abortion, Body shaming, and Death of parent