Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Crossing by Pajtim Statovci

8 reviews

emoryscott's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Absolutely stunning. As a transgender person who has experienced similar traumas as the main character, I connected with this book deeply. It is a challenging read because of the depth of sorrow the protagonist faces, but it is also hauntingly beautiful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Dementia, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, Classism, and Deportation

nathaneal's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

i feel weirdly connected to this book even tho i cannot point out a specific chapter, phrase, ect that i feel connected to. i loved reading it, but it took ages for me to finish it. i couldn’t deal with the constant time change, the constant change of the feelings i connected to the times the protagonist talked about. but i found the book weirdly comforting in some way i unfortunately cannot express.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer

Minor: Trafficking

pissdrawerlmfao's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and War

alexhaydon's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and War

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

  Crossing is the story of Bujar who, along with best friend Agim, decides to flee his Albanian hometown in search of greater happiness elsewhere. It’s a novel that touches on some heavy themes - sexual and gender identity, shame, the isolation of being a refugee, belonging and acceptance. There is graphic ongoing sexual assault and an attempted suicide as well so not an easy read. Bujar is a complicated character, not always a reliable narrator, someone who never settles and is constantly reinventing himself. His actions are often reprehensible, but knowledge of his past makes it a little easier to understand them. While there are some comic moments the overall tone of this book is grim and brutal, an accurate reflection of the realities of war-torn Albania and the life Bujar felt forced to lead. The incorporation of Albanian folk tales throughout this novel was a bonus, adding an additional layer of depth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

franek's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence

annieinthearchives's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Trafficking

macsenbesemer's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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

4.0

This book was truly wonderful, it’s complex, it’s emotional, and at times a bit confusing. It deals with identities in so many ways, and how they affect us. And oh boy the ending *no spoilers* was just so,,, much. I throughly enjoyed the journey this book took me on, even if it was not the journey I wished it was. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Dementia