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Reviews tagging 'Rape'
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
1261 reviews
angelrea's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
molly_greenshields's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
This was a horror-coaster from start to finish. And, for better or for worse, it totally consumed my week. More than merely a vampire thriller, Grady serves up a narrative about how far people will go to delude themselves into believing they're safe in order not to rock the boat. The true horror here stems not only from the monster (although a fare whack also comes from him, too) but also from the men who unrelentingly treat their wives like utter shit and refuse them a morsel of respect. This book made me extremely uncomfortable at times and needs an essay worth of trigger warnings added but has some really hard-hitting messages at its core.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, and Death of parent
indigojump's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child abuse
erikarosereads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
timlucier's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.25
Fright Night meets the Real Housewives of Charleston. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires has been on my list for some time, and I'm glad I finally gave it a shot. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Bahni Turpin, who did an excellent job and was very entertaining to listen to.
I enjoyed the slice of life in suburban Charleston's middle class, and found the mystery that unfolded for the main character Patricia to be similar in styling to the movies Disturbia and Fright Night. Based on the title, I think I expected more involvement from the other book club members - but this was largely Patricia's story.
I knew a nerve was hit about halfway through, when the plot made me irrationally angry and I was suddenly rooting for every book club member to divorce their husbands. That was a "no turning back" point, and I sped through the rest of the story. This is story about a unique type of vampire, which shines a light on some sociocultural issues. Largely it's a story about women supporting women.
It's a perfect fit for your October reading vibes - I look forward to exploring other works by the author.
I enjoyed the slice of life in suburban Charleston's middle class, and found the mystery that unfolded for the main character Patricia to be similar in styling to the movies Disturbia and Fright Night. Based on the title, I think I expected more involvement from the other book club members - but this was largely Patricia's story.
I knew a nerve was hit about halfway through, when the plot made me irrationally angry and I was suddenly rooting for every book club member to divorce their husbands. That was a "no turning back" point, and I sped through the rest of the story. This is story about a unique type of vampire, which shines a light on some sociocultural issues. Largely it's a story about women supporting women.
It's a perfect fit for your October reading vibes - I look forward to exploring other works by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Rape
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
arcticdryas's review against another edition
DNF because the tone changed drastically after first third. The book club was barely a thing. The vampire was at times extremely capable and at others, woefully incompetent?
Patricia, oblivious and incompetent. One scene you’re beat over the head with all the signs of how they should be wary of the newcomer in front of him and no one even glances nervously or acknowledges it.
Kid is randomly obsessed with nazis for no apparent reason and it’s… persistent.
Lots of showing how sexism and classism and racism in the south in this era could have been, but it did feel more like 50’s or 60’s than 90’s - and again, kind of beat over the head with it (mc experiences something and then on-the-nose ruminates but doesn’t reallyyyy change).
If you’re looking for a book to open up discussion about those topics, along with sexual predation (especially of children, potentially grooming), then this could be good for that. There is explicit rape and graphic deaths, but it was sooo slow paced after the first 30ish % that it felt less and less like a horror and more like a slow thriller based around a woman’s dismantling of her beliefs - that she doesn’t act on very much (as far as I read).
Patricia, oblivious and incompetent. One scene you’re beat over the head with all the signs of how they should be wary of the newcomer in front of him and no one even glances nervously or acknowledges it.
Kid is randomly obsessed with nazis for no apparent reason and it’s… persistent.
Lots of showing how sexism and classism and racism in the south in this era could have been, but it did feel more like 50’s or 60’s than 90’s - and again, kind of beat over the head with it (mc experiences something and then on-the-nose ruminates but doesn’t reallyyyy change).
If you’re looking for a book to open up discussion about those topics, along with sexual predation (especially of children, potentially grooming), then this could be good for that. There is explicit rape and graphic deaths, but it was sooo slow paced after the first 30ish % that it felt less and less like a horror and more like a slow thriller based around a woman’s dismantling of her beliefs - that she doesn’t act on very much (as far as I read).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
e3z's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity
cravebooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
i think this might be the worst book i have ever read. the insane irony of hendrix talking about how “men know everything and never shut up” and yet is constantly trying to write stories from an empowered female perspective as if he has any idea what that feels like??
this is the second book i’ve read by him and i only forced myself to finish it because, ironically enough, it was for a book club. this book was graphic and gory purely for shock value and had no real explanation for why Harris was the way he was which made all of his inane actions seem cheap, disgusting, and just highly implausible.
this is obviously supposed to be an allegory for how women feel sucked dry in their mundane housewife lives by their husbands and their wifely duties, but my god you didn’t have to punch me in the face with it.
also…what the hell is this dude’s obsession with pubic hair???
i have never felt so unsettled and disgusted after finishing a book, and it wasn’t even worth it because it was just all for shock value to get a reaction out of the reader.
this is the second book i’ve read by him and i only forced myself to finish it because, ironically enough, it was for a book club. this book was graphic and gory purely for shock value and had no real explanation for why Harris was the way he was which made all of his inane actions seem cheap, disgusting, and just highly implausible.
this is obviously supposed to be an allegory for how women feel sucked dry in their mundane housewife lives by their husbands and their wifely duties, but my god you didn’t have to punch me in the face with it.
also…what the hell is this dude’s obsession with pubic hair???
i have never felt so unsettled and disgusted after finishing a book, and it wasn’t even worth it because it was just all for shock value to get a reaction out of the reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism
crystallineflowers's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book takes all your expectations about vampires and turns them on their head. Yes, you as the reader are aware that this is a vampire. But the REAL horror here is actually something else. Also a fantastic example of what it's like living in the deep South.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Gore
Moderate: Rape
sydneynorman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Classism