Reviews tagging 'Violence'

L'arbre du mal by Tana French

38 reviews

mihrreader's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Man, I'll be frank, this book messed me up. It is, as they'd say, "a real headwrecker." It is decidedly not a cozy mystery, nor is it sensationalized in the way much popular true crime tends to be. This book is unflinchingly human, extremely down to Earth, and hard to read. I feel the same way about this story as I did several cases I worked when I was assigned to the Cold Cases unit of the DA's Office:  it's sad and it sucks and there's nothing you can do about it other than watch it unfold. When I say "it sucks," that is by no means a reflection on the plot or storytelling, both are excellent; Tana French is an extremely skilled writer.

Having Toby as the narrator makes this book so much of a mindfuck, because he's an extremely unreliable narrator because of his brain injury. While Toby questions himself, his character, and his memory, it kind of forces the reader to ponder the same questions. I cannot recommend this book if you grapple with memory issues, questions of identity, and/or depression. It'll absolutely exacerbate those feelings. The ending is far from happy. It left me with a very diminished sense of the world, of lingering diffuse sadness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

wildhorses's review against another edition

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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

someryarns's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Alcohol

rgarvais's review against another edition

dark sad slow-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

1.0

I truly hated this book. The representations of disability were frankly disgusting and make me audibly gasp a couple times. I read a few interviews with the author, thinking maybe this was on purpose (though that still wouldn’t explain nor forgive the writing)? But it wasn’t. The author was focused on the privilege of the main character, and when asked about the ableism in her book, brushes aside the question. I do NOT recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Murder

dwiparto's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

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

2.75

Such a slow burn.  This was my first Tana French, and I was looking for a thriller, but I can’t call this book that.   It felt more like a commentary on privilege, classism, cliques, and hubris built around a suspicious death.  I HATED the main character.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt

moreta1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

gracehourigan's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

4.5

A little slower than most of French’s other books but it definitely broke the mold of what I was expecting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug abuse, Hate crime, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

rae69's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

honestly this book felt like watching multiple cars crash into each other but you are forced to look anyway 

and I know it's not true but books like this kinda feel like they are made for people who have nothing else to worry about 

but I also read this feeling not that great anyway

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Terminal illness

marlyngitomer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Pacing was very slow. I was intrigued by the middle but stopped caring by the end. It just dragged on and I'm past the point that character development was no longer happening. I wonder why this story has to be told. The mystery was kind of interesting and dark, but then there were other things that happened. Meh. I do like her writing style and would give another one of her books a try, but this one was so-so. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Dementia, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

lumilammas's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

Very well crafted story. Ultimately upsetting. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment