Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

31 reviews

notbrhymes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I don’t know. The beginning was hard to get into. I was confused by choices made throughout most of the book. The ending was incredibly abrupt and semi ambiguous. I don’t like the cheating and lying that are constant throughout this novel, as well as the horribly sad recounting of CSA. But also I found the writing compelling (more so after the flashbacks, didn’t like those even though they did add to the narrative) and the story interesting as well. I just don’t know! 

Also, I think there should have been massive warning for the extreme levels of child sexual assault (CSA) depicted in this story. I had no idea that was where this was going when I started this book and it completely shocked me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Sexual harassment

awestervelt20's review against another edition

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

readingwithmal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

camillebergeron's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Fatphobia and Medical content

readchelsearead's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content

meggles's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse

notionsofdragonsfire's review

dark emotional 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

sarahkstice's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I think this author has great potential, but could definitely work on subtlety and cohesiveness of the characters. I loved the scoping history of the family, but the descriptions of the characters at different times in their lives didn't always seem to line up. And the love affair felt a little too obvious--subtlety and longing would have gone better. Overall, though, I enjoyed it, and though I frequently quit books that don't meet my expectations, I was curious enough to her reading this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

vanessanalmeida's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

bookedupbabe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

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