Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty

6 reviews

gladosisreading's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This book was frustrating, as I loved the concept (a slice of life as social commentary with complex and sometimes morally grey characters), and some sections were brilliantly written (especially the sections exploring the lives of the other residents in the building). But for every spectacular bit of writing, there were equal sections that felt overwritten, drawn out, too rambling, or really laboured the point. I still can't decide how I feel about the ending and

making the stabbing non fatal seemed a bit rushed and made me question the whole point

but maybe it's just not for me! Normally I love books like this, so despite it being an alright read overall with one or two stand-out moments, I was left feeling a little underwhelmed and pretty unmotivated to finish by the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

bentoush's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Toxic friendship

01ivia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Murder

alexdayhey's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood

Post-natal depression/mental illness, teacher/student sexual relationship

cstein's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

In this ambitious and then painfully pointed examination of contemporary struggle, Gunty employs a unique narrative style and extensive knowledge of her spiritual and philosophical forebears to great effect. The late, Dostoevsky-esque monologue chapter was the novel's highlight and a pleasure to parse through. Gunty has a keen eye for phenomena one passively observes but never articulates. However, when it finally arrived, the scene anticipated from page one felt underexamined.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Classism

Minor: Sexual content and Vomit

swalk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

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

4.25

Drifting through a set of apartments you learn of the residents who inhabit them and what their lives are like, touching, raw, brutal, sometimes even funny.



Set in a deprived area of social housing in Indiana colloquially known as The Rabbit Hutch, you wander the minds of those who live there; What are their hopes, fears, problems, daydreams, what is happening in the banality of day to day life? The narrative thread is very loose especially at the start, it seems to be more about the life of each character, than a particular ‘story’ as such. Later on the lives interweave and connect the further into the book you get.



The content reminds me a little of the film Waking Life in the way it winds between different characters, thoughts and topics. It is an unusual, but beautiful writing style. I’m not sure if in general I would have picked this book, but I’m glad I did. Very thought provoking.


The narrator has a lovely expressive voice, who he really lends itself to this writing style, both soft and clear.

CW postnatal depression, suicide, depression, catastrophising, apocalypse


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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment and Classism