Reviews tagging 'Death'

Empuzjon by Olga Tokarczuk

7 reviews

bookb1itch's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

The blurb and publicity for this book promised it to be my jam.  Although it was beautifully well-written, the story didn't deliver the "Horror" promised on the cover.  There was only a vague unease or creeping menace most of the time.  (Except the references to specialty dishes - these really were horrific!) And the goings-on in the woods...  (!) Also, it was a difficult read, because the language was so dense, so I wasn't able to read much at a time, spoiling continuity.  Some really interesting conversations between characters about politics, women, philosophy, but I would have preferred more chills.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Dysphoria

makennahbristow's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I loved Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead so much that I immediately put The Empusium on hold at the library. I nearly gave up on it after reading the first couple of chapters because I found it so boring and frustrating. Reading from the perspective of intentionally misogynistic, racist, intolerable white men is not the most fun. I pushed on because so many of the reviews said the ending was amazing and they were not wrong. The last quarter of the book definitely had me the most engaged! I loved the nature/mushroom themed horror element, though I do wish that it had been more strongly woven throughout the book. I'm glad I read it but I wish certain elements had been changed just to make it a more tolerable read! The themes of death, gender, and seeing the darkness that is not immediately obvious in one's surroundings were excellent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, and Death

sarahb919's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

 Very well-written but also very slow-paced. Towards the middle I started to get bored and was wondering if the plot would ever reappear. But I stuck around because I wanted my suspicions about the main character confirmed. Was happy they were confirmed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ekfmef's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. Wat een boek. Ik kan deze leeservaring eigenlijk niet onder woorden brengen. Flarden blijven na-ijlen en rondzingen in je hoofd. 

Enerzijds is het een verrukkelijke persiflage op De Toverberg. Ik denk dat dit boek niet half zo leuk is als je niet bekend bent met dat boek. De ellenlange misogyne dialogen zijn een stuk beter te plaatsen als je weet welke kritiek er wordt ge-uit door de dialoog überhaupt op deze manier vorm te geven.

Anderszijds is het ook eng, koud en slijmerig. Op een goede manier maar niet op een cozy queer manier. En toch is dit boek echt enorm queer. Het blijft jammer dat queer verhalen niet gewoon in termen van geluk beschreven kunnen worden maar als het gaat om lijden dan kan Tokarczuk dat wel echt adembenemend. Er zitten echt zoveel lagen in dit verhaal... 

Dus ja, je kan dit boek zien als het queeren van de Toverberg, maar dat betekent niet dat het allemaal regenbogen en maneschijn is, anders zou het ook geen Tokarczuk zijn denk ik. Jeetje. Echt vakvrouwschap in net iets meer dan 300 pagina's. 

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Na de tweede keer lezen net zo awesome. Het boek is wel echt gaaf als je de wending kent.. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Suicide, Violence, and Medical trauma

zotty's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Terminal illness

ylienna's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

edytaworyna's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Minor: Death of parent