Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Prendila così by Joan Didion

42 reviews

todelisus's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

the last two pages sealed the deal

A fascinating, little book. Can’t say I enjoyed the story, more like I enjoyed what (and how) the author tried to tell the reader with the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Alcohol

viictoriaa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

didion has a way with words. this was a very visual book, the tone and the vibe of the book was exactly what she wanted it to be. the characters were fucked up but they were actually interesting and i wanted to know more about them

would totally re read it in summer!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

mitchelljohnson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.0

Joan Didion is mostly know for her non-fiction, and I think I understand why. 

The book is good. But that’s it. The content is a bit hard to stomach at points, the plot is nonexistent, but the writing is great. I liked the premise and how it was executed, but I don’t think Didion was great with fiction, or maybe it was this book in particular.

I found myself forgetting characters, because none of them are really memorable. I found myself not understanding what was happening because of how much the book jumped around. I was a bit confused. 

I might try her non-fiction, because her writing is very skillful and she really knows how to get a message across in as little words as possible. Her journalism background really shines in that aspect, but it makes it harsh to read as fiction. I would re-read sections constantly because I didn’t fully grasp one line, putting me off track.

I was disappointed, but I believe that there are points in your life where a book is more meaningful to you, so this just might not have been the right time for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Chronic illness

malinlm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Violence, Abortion, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

noam20's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Physical abuse

li_si_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abortion

3mi1y's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

This book was very short and an extremely fast read. All in all it’s a great book with an interesting writing style. I liked that we only get little insights of what’s going on in her life

and the events that led to her commitment to a mental hospital

. That’s what made the book different from others and therefore pretty special in my opinion. :) It even felt a bit like I’d be reading her diary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Abortion, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Grief

emry23's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Suicide

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, and Addiction

Minor: Homophobia

jessahrens's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.75

Would look up trigger warnings before reading. I didn’t have a good time reading this but she’s undoubtedly five stars. Don’t recommend reading if depressed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Abortion, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

mmefish's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-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

4.5

She wanted to tell him she was sorry, but saying she was sorry did not seem entirely adequate, and in any case what she was sorry about seemed at once too deep and too evanescent for any words she knew, seemed so vastly more complicated than the immediate fact that it was perhaps better left unraveled.

An addicting story (thanks to the prose) about shallow people and their shallow lives. And mental illness. Reminded me a bit of "The Bell Jar".

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Abortion, Blood, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Death of parent