Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Still Life with Bones by Alexa Hagerty

6 reviews

scotia_mullin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This book was impeccable. Hagerty writes an emotive and compelling piece around her experiences of studying genocide and mass disappearance. 
As an anthropologist I found the idea of a cultural anthropologist conducting fieldwork alongside forensic anthropologists fascinating. Her perspectives have voice to both the insider and the outside and explored themes deeply. 
The ethnographic writing style was descriptive, reflective, and honest and brought light to an issue that is commonly glazed over in history. 
I really enjoyed the authors pace, tone, and overall writing style and found the book easy to digest. Although some parts were sad and dense I recommend reading this book whether you are an anthropologist or not. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

savvy999's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative slow-paced

4.5

Informative, devastating and beautiful. It’s a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and importance of dignity in death. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

apiologee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

vbarsi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This is one of my favorite books of the year so far (I’ve read over 15 books as of May 2024). It combines history, forensic science, politics and religion, and cultural beliefs surrounding death with the anthropologists own personal stories and experiences of her life and her time doing forensic anthropology in Argentina and Guatemala. I think this is an incredible read, though it is gut-wrenching and challenging to read about the violence. It also shows how the United States is complicit in overthrowing democratically elected governments in favor of violent dictatorships, because it suits their financial interests. I will always think of Guatemala when someone tries to mention the United States as the moral compass of the world. Additionally Alexa highlights the corruption of the catholic church in Argentina

and their ability to overlook or help the dictatorship with disappearing people.

Overall, it was beautifully written, with amazing metaphors. The one quote that really hit me: “the work of mourning involves killing the dead or dying with them”. As someone who lost their dad at 10 years old this hit me in my feeeels. Will be recommending this to every person I know!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

mslaureeslibrary's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Classism

thepennotthesword's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail