Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld

12 reviews

jen_b22's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

catha1na's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Murder, Misogyny, Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Sexism, Self harm, Death, Child death, Mental illness, Infidelity, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship

franceselsie's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Murder, Stalking, Infidelity, Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Violence, Mental illness, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicide, Misogyny, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Cursing, and Animal death

azebrareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Infertility, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Ableism, Bullying, Torture, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Death, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

savvylit's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Bass Rock is a captivating novel about the full spectrum of male violence. From gaslighting and manipulation to sexual violence and murder, Wyld slowly and subtly drips in the myriad ways that men have controlled & harmed women throughout history. The Bass Rock forces readers to pay attention to what all women know - but may only occasionally acknowledge for sanity's sake. That each one of us has experienced male violence. Each one of us has had some of the very same fears and realities faced by the characters in these pages.

Needless to say, The Bass Rock is an emotionally heavy book. However, Wyld maintains reader interest by switching between each of her vivid, flawed characters. There is so much more to this novel beyond the violence. There's evocative descriptions of the Scottish coast, complicated family dynamics, paranormal activity, claustrophobic small town encounters... Wyld writes so beautifully that you can't look away. While reading, I found myself vacillating between feeling frustrated, hopeful, disappointed, unsurprised, and deeply depressed. If you decide to read this too, please be sure to take care of yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Murder, Violence, Rape, Death, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

corneliusmcstrawberry's review against another edition

dark reflective 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? No

4.0

this book was dark. personally i am a fan of dark, challenging pieces of literary fiction, so this was up my alley. this author's use of different types of perspective (first person, third person omniscient/limited) is genius; once i realized why she chose to play around with perspective the way she did, it all clicked, and i loved it. good use of motifs as well, and great attention to detail/subtlety. the fox and the wolf are recurring motifs throughout this book and i enjoyed the symbolism. this is a story about patriarchal violence, and how society has allowed it to fester and ruin the lives of so many women across generations, in ways big and small. potential spoiler ahead (?):

Spoiler

the character maggie was my favourite - such a complex character, and her dialogue is a breath of fresh air that cuts through the fog and unapologetically hands you the message of the novel.

also, the prologue of this novel!!!! one of the best i have read. it sets the tone for the novel and frankly, it did have me hooked on the book from the beginning. i found parts of this book to be quite thrilling, as well as blunt and - as i have already stated - dark. if you are looking for a distinctly feminist novel, this is a great book to try. it was weaved together so well, the stories of the three women - sarah, ruth, and viviane - as well as those of the side characters have been braided together. this was a great read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Minor: Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy

rosalind's review

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gaslighting, Body horror, Mental illness, Child abuse, Self harm, Rape, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Grief, Forced institutionalization, and Blood

Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Abortion, Car accident, Confinement, and Cursing

thebristolreader's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse

sannepoppe's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? No

3.75

Ik vond het tof dat het drie verhalen waren over vrouwen en dat uiteindelijk bleek dat die verhalen met elkaar verbonden waren. Verder vond ik het wel nogal vaag zo nu en dan. Vooral in het begin moest je heel goed opletten wie nou wie was. En er zaten ook korte hoofdstukjes tussen die niet over één van de drie vrouwen ging en toen snapte ik al helemaal niet meer waar dat over ging. Verder mooi beeldend geschreven.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, and Self harm

Minor: Abortion

karabeavis's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful 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

5.0

Stella Prize 2021 winner. I loved this. A completely enthralling read with many funny moments, contemporary situations and flawed characters. I was absolutely at the house by the ocean and the rock, which forms the central location of the stories. This is also a deeply disturbing account of the role of men’s violence against women over generations. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship