Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland

7 reviews

chaptersofchase's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

5.0

FIVE STARS
Thank you, Dutton Books + PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of The Force of Such Beauty.

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆☆
Pub Date: 5.9.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“I learned that the world was made from men—for men—that men controlled the world, and further—that their desire for my attention was the only leverage I possessed. I could have learned other things, I suppose, but that would have required an education.”

It’s not often that I find a book that captures me and refuses to let me go until I’ve read every page, but that is precisely what The Force of Such Beauty did. Not only did it keep me invested from start to finish, but since finishing it almost three weeks ago, I have thought about it while brushing my teeth, fixing dinner, folding laundry, walking my dogs, or going to bed at night. It was one of the best, most heartbreaking stories I’ve read in a very long time. It’s absolutely something I would read again.

I would love to tell you more, but I think it’s just something that needs to be read, and that’s really all I can say about it. Oh, and it’s going on my favorites list.



_


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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse

jordy_kay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

No therapists and mental health for royals in real life means no therapists for our fictional characters!!!



Okay, I enjoyed the layout of the story. You know what it all leads to from the beginning of the book. I liked hearing the main character reflect and ponder with different lenses the events that lead her to her current point. I understand if it felt sad and hopeless because of the forewarning of the circumstances. But like I said, it gave way to more reflection. Overall, I enjoyed my read but I can see why others may find it slower. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

daniellemjoyce's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

sadpear's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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? Yes

5.0

A stunning book, with such voice. There were moments that I forgot entirely that this was fiction, that I was not reading the memoir of a real person as the voice of this novel is so singular and vivid. The opening sequence puts a kind of dread to everything that happens so you second guess how this fairy tale could possibly be bad. Truly one of the best novels I've read in years.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Self harm, Violence, and Vomit

voidboi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny sad tense medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

lizinthelibrary's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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? Yes

4.25

Oh wow. This book really talks about the power of a woman's body, of her beauty, and how that power can trap her. There are a few times, especially toward the end, where it goes into "just tell the entire point/moral" territory and that feels a bit disappointing after such an amazing book. But the journey is incredible. I kept telling lots of other people to read it as I was reading it so I would have someone to discuss with.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Eating disorder

Minor: Death and Death of parent

tbretc's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Gaslighting