Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

26 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

In traditional Gothic horror fashion, this story by Jackson makes just enough sense to keep you engaged. The characters are just this side of realistic. The story is believable, yet horrifying. The fact that they continuously discuss the day that the entire family was murdered via arsenic poisoning (by one of the sisters discussing it) is morbid and disturbing. And yet, I found myself in full adoration of the sisters in this story. I loved how well they took care of one another. I also found the story to be full of humor. I liked "The Lottery" better, but I really enjoyed the macabre this story has to offer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

takarakei's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I'm not much of a classics or horror reader (even tho it wasn't scary horror imo), so this wasn't really for me. But I think I can definitely see the influences of this book into modern horror media.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse

toastrats's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Classism

henriediosa's review

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I love Merricat's style of narration and how the two sisters look out for each other. If you're looking for a non-romantic version of a fucked up love story, this is it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

There is an unreliable narrator who engages in a lot of magical thinking and has her own sense of morality. She's prone to daydreaming and wishing death upon people.

shieldbearer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Another book read because it was a favorite of Suzanne Collins', I did not know what to expect going into this and I really enjoyed it. A deeply layered text with so much complexity, its ambiguity is also its brilliance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Alcohol

emmaopaline's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia

vas_17's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

somelatenightreading's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Child abuse

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child death, Medical content, Dementia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, and Incest

fatherprozac's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Sad and haunting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury