Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Devil of Nanking by Mo Hayder

4 reviews

aknaag's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

The story is honestly heartbreaking, considering that it is based on the real life genocide in Nangkin it’s obviously so hard to grasp. 

But let me just say, the MC is so boring and unbearable like she is so? Lame…? Like I couldn’t care less about her part of the plot, I was only keen on other aspects or other characters on the book.  She was as plain as soggy oatmeal.  Also gave me Asian fetish vibes but that’s just me.  

I want to say nothing really, disturbed or shocked me? I want to say that’s because I’m either super desensitized which isn’t shocking or that I was very prepared for the worst considering the most unspeakable did happen in real life.  But I wanna say I wasn’t expecting what happened irl to be written and fleshed out in a purely fictional story solely out of respect, so I understand that.

It’s just…. Parts of the story really bored me personally. The MC was just… girl have some personality lmao you’re so fucking BORING.

Anyway that *one* scene or the climax? The whole point of the plot when it finally played out, it was so heartbreaking and fucking tragic nonetheless, had me gasping and just all around so fucking sad that it happened , and to say most likely happened IRL??

All I gotta say is Japan had the craziest rebranding. 
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girlpuck's review against another edition

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

3.75

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e_gracereads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed this book, more than I even expected to. It was horrific — which is to be expected, considering it’s a historical fiction about the Rape of Nanking — but it was incredibly well written, haunting, and mysterious. It’s going to sit with me for a while, I think, especially this: is ignorance forgivable? 

Incredibly poignant. Highly recommend. 
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alerasaul0's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I was a weird kid growing up and was kind of fascinated by World War 2, so when I found this book I was pretty excited. I was an adult when I read it but I wish someone had stopped me and been like you are too young for this book you delicate flower. I had only really dealt with the kind of sanitized history they teach in schools in America. Not some of the truly messed up things that happened.  The truth is, this is an extremely disturbing and well written piece of historical fiction. In fact it would not have bothered me half so much as it did, if it was entirely fictional. Also, in honor of complete disclosure, I did a lot of skipping around in the book so I could avoid the worst parts of the violence. None of it is there to simply disturb the reader. It serves a purpose for the plot. I just felt it was one bit I could skip over and still enjoy the book 
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