Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Memory Police, by Yōko Ogawa

8 reviews

matcha_reader's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I was expecting more from this book. Great idea, poor execution - in my opinion. 
The writing is okay, very beautiful in the beginning actually. The first pages are what got me into this book in the first place. But then... the narrative gets painfully slow at some points and so many questions are left unanswered (personal preference, but I don't like it when too many plot points are left to my imagination, I want to know what happened!).
Also, the end seemed rushed, as though the author had no idea how to continue the story and decided to end it in the most most simple way. I feel like overall the book was a bit absurd and pointless, but interesting nonetheless. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual violence

Minor: Body horror and Infidelity

taibreakfast's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

A quiet novel following the largely mundane day-to-day details of living under a dystopian, authoritarian government. The skill in the writing is in showing us how people try to move on with their lives even as more and more of their world is disappeared from their memories. Lots of fascinating reflections on the importance of memory in the act of making art. Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Sexual violence and Death

gillbethkinder's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Grief, and Injury/injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder and Blood

carolinalopezwatt's review

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Animal death

tomasalbanez's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

Spoiler

A bit too devastating to be read on covid times, but a really interesting look into what makes us go on or not.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Sexual violence, Violence, and Toxic relationship

darbo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

"I don't know. Maybe there's a place out there where people whose hearts aren't empty can go on living."

The book has a slow start, and it may feel slow all throughout for some due to its mundane, everyday tasks, but it picks up eventually and just leaves you baffled and shocked at every turn. Especially so the ending. I truly love this and wholeheartedly recommend this to any dystopia and Orwell fans out there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment, Blood, and Death

glains's review

challenging mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Sexual violence

kamuffel's review

challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Daunting, Murakami-like vibes, dark but in a light way. Went down smooth as butter.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Rape