Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

7 reviews

xkrille's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I read this for university. I cannot deny that it is good. Definitely. But I do not think I understood it fully. I had to read some analyses and interpretations before I got it. As I said, I did enjoy it. I wish I had understood it while I read it because I definitely would have found it more spooky. All in all, it is my own fault that I did not enjoy it as much. The language was difficult for me, sorry!!! Maybe I did not concentrate hard enough. Whatever, it was a nice story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent

epeolatrist's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

The Turn of the Screw is an alluring and confusing mystery that often brings more questions than answers. In one of the most classic ghost stories, Henry James accomplishes the perfect mystery. There are few things that confirm the governess's ghost sightings, other than her own visions and recollections. There is far more evidence that supports the fact that she has gone mad, in my opinion. In the end, we are left wondering whether Miles truly saw the ghost of Peter Quint or if he somehow knew of the governess's terror regarding Quint and Miss Jessel.
Henry James leaves plenty of hints in reference to motifs of sexuality, madness, terror, and malevolence. I read this for class and found it far more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Personally, I believe that the governess had gone mad from hallucinations of ghosts fueled by her loneliness and her desire to meet an attractive man, possibly the children's uncle, on the grounds (in a Jane Eyre sort of manner). Her observations of the children trying to trick and manipulate her are manifestations of her own fear and, essentially, false reactions that she has created in her own mind. 
The Turn of the Screw is both fantastic and nightmarish. It is a book that will keep you constantly looking over your shoulder, fearing that you may too stumble upon Peter Quint or Miss Jessel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Child death

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual content

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Classism

coolfijiwater's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

It could be confusing and slow at times, pacing was a bit disjointed with how some of the descriptions were written. I ended up lost in the prose and having to reread passages.

I liked that the narrator is unreliable. The book takes an Interesting look at the corruption and death of innocence paired with attempts at heroism going wrong. I

also enjoyed the subtlety of the horror, it’s creepy and unnerving as you try to figure out what’s real and try to find answers to the character’s secrets.

The ending was a little open ended, leaving it to the reader to decide what happens in some aspects. It was satisfying but also somehow underwhelming.

Overall a perfect creepy, gothic horror story! But one I probably shouldn’t have read before bed 😂

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Minor: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

ashleycmms's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

merricatblackwood's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence