Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Das Spiel by Stephen King

22 reviews

goldenluck's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

How I described this to my partner immediately after finishing: it was fine. Jessie is not the worst "woman written by a man" I've ever read, but far from the best. The tension, gore, and horror were compelling and well written. The build up, reveal, and aftermath of her childhood trauma was, for the most part, well done. 

In my opinion, this should have been a short story. Cut out the moonlight man, make the dog the big bad, when she escapes have her realize she and the dog are both victims of man trying to survive and come to peace with that. Or, if you want to include the monster, make him 1) a violator of women not men and 2) LET HER KILL HIM. 

The symbology of Jessie's trauma in regards to sexual assault and misogyny was mostly well done up until the monster and all it's fall out, then it completely fell apart. If he had been able to carry it through, it would have been much better and a much more satisfying albeit dark climax. I just get the feeling that King chickened out in the end, which is so disappointing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

miruna_cls's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Confinement, Pedophilia, and Self harm

birddie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Cannibalism, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

lay_kone's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Cannibalism

kelseyholler's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Did I like it? No. Was it the most horrifying and brutal book I've ever read? Yes. Rating it highly because it was well written and terrified me, so all in all a good horror book. With that being said, I'll never read it again and you can bet I'll never ever recommend it to anyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Cannibalism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Mental illness

thesapphire's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

stronkmira's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

5.0

This book is incredible. The way that King describes trauma, flashbacks and dissociation from the characters POV is insane. This book had me gasping, it had me gagging, it had me at the edge of my SEAT. Real good stuff 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

theimposter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is a beautiful and traumatizing expression of trauma (sexual trauma specifically) and of the mind’s internal family system which Stephen King writes so accurately and in such a personifying way. It was also the most triggering book I’ve ever read and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who is triggered by sexual abuse/rape or anyone who doesn’t want to read gore and body horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

kreglow's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

ansatejones's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-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

4.25

She should have adopted the damn dog at the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail