Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Galatea by Madeline Miller

98 reviews

holistichistorian's review against another edition

dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I loved Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and after so many recommendations, I had to read Galatea and I’m absolutely overjoyed by it! As a short story, it has a natural fast pace but the characters are well defined it becomes easy to empathise with the protagonist (Galatea). I still adore Miller’s writing style, I feel immediately immersed in the time period. My favourite part was the Note from the Author, I found Miller’s insights brief but inspiring and satisfying. It’s wonderful to find a writer so invested in the message and history behind their writing. Examining classics with a modern lens is important, and Madeline Miller does this well. My only complaint is that it’s too short, I know that’s the point of a short story but I’m greedy, I want more. I recommend this to all classicists and those who love to explore social issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse and Medical content

Minor: Abortion

saracat's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• 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? No

4.0

This was a very interesting short story. I liked how Miller puts us into the point of view of Galatea and we see how she has to figure out how to navigate in a world where she is treated as less then by different people for different slightly different reasons. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Body shaming and Abortion

place6o_ffct's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide, and Gaslighting

carlithian's review against another edition

dark inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Murder

thenoboshow's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

tashtasher'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

delphi_oracle's review against another edition

dark informative sad fast-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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Abortion

Minor: Incest and Pedophilia

l_noona's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

quarkie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.25

I picked up this book based on a recommendation from the New York Times "Read Like the Wind" newsletter. It was one of two physically small books described that week, and it is small! 6" by 4", and about 50 pages long.

Honestly, I'm sort of glad it wasn't any longer. It didn't have to be, to get its main point across. The world that Galatea lives in is horrifying, and was very uncomfortable to read about. It is even worse to think how near this fiction is to reality: women being seen by men, their partners, their families, or society as a whole as nothing but property, and used as such. That it would be much better if they were silent and simply did as they were told. And how everyone - professionals, other women, strangers - all help uphold this role.

That said, it was beautifully written. Galatea's voice is clear, strong, and very matter-of-fact. To hear this story solely through her eyes is powerful. her reclamation of her own is ending is powerful.

Overall, it made me look forward to reading more by this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Pregnancy

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

torismazarine's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment