Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

22 reviews

brilliantfriend's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

This is an extremely disturbing, graphic book. VERY good, but you have to have the stomach for it.

toadallyabby's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

It’s a dark book but one that most folks who grew up around religiosity can identify with in some way. No one gets out of this story as a saint. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Rape, Torture, and Death of parent

Minor: Pedophilia and Terminal illness

orizenda's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I liked this way more than I anticipated. I think there’s a lot more going on than just the stories. I think i’ll have to read it again

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide

octopusarms's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

mxpringle's review against another edition

dark tense 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

2.75

One day maybe I will find a horror novel that doesn't include queer people and women without demonizing and/or victimizing them. I thought it was solidly enjoyable in terms of the writing, but I feel like a lot of the plot and topics explored are tropes that have been overdone, such as Southern small town murders, hitchhikers, etc., though these were intermingled with a few really cool new ideas. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pregnancy and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit

reggiethebird's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I cannot imagine someone reading this book and thinking "You know what, I want people to experience all this on the big screen." This is one of the most grimy books I've ever read, like "I want to take a shower after reading it" type filthy. I'm not sure there is a good person in all 261 pages who isn't either raped, killed, raped then killed, or killed then raped. This is a book where a bunch of bad people do bad things to other bad people for a whole 3 or 4 intersecting plot arcs. If that's the type of story you like, go for it. If you have any triggers at all, probably skip this one. It's a very ugly tale.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Slavery, Vomit, Dementia, Stalking, Car accident, Gaslighting, and War

foxgallagher's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Infidelity

Minor: Cancer, Racism, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

bumblebroxbeeblebooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

My favorite book of September 2022. Everything about this book was so messed up and wrong but it was so entertaining to read. I haven't listened to an audiobook or read something this fast in a long time. I'm really excited to watch this movie on Netflix.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

There is a ton of trigger warners for this novel so take that into consideration before reading this.

mxyfrzn's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

I've heard this called rural noir and I think that fits. It's incredibly well crafted, and the kind of horror that's that drudging, sick to your stomach kind of dread. Can't say I enjoyed myself, but if you're looking for something that feels like a mix of No Country for Old Men and Season 1 of True Detective, this is a great pick.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

taylers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

A dark, post WW2 horror/thriller that gives you insight into the minds of seemingly normal people who, in secret, do depraved and horrific things. All the trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail