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Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things: Stories by J.T. LeRoy
6 reviews
m_e_d_b_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence
zoe_macgechan's review
- 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
4.0
At points I considered giving up because the abuse is so distressing to read. I'm very much in favour of readers facing up to uncomfortable truths, but the perspectives at certain points were beyond discomfort. I couldn't give up though. The writing is incredible : despite the darkness and bleakness of the topic, it's incredibly compelling. Not for the faint of heart, but worthy of the adulation. I don't know enough to pass judgement on whether it's torture porn, but be warned.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Apologies if I missed any content warnings.headfirstslides's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
eeviee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
fluoresensitive's review against another edition
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
mezzarella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I had heard nothing but praise for the quality of writing which surrounded The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, and had hoped that since the move had been liked well enough by general audiences, the book would especially shine. What I found was a story which felt as though the author honed in on perceptions and problems which surround poor and working class communities and weaponized them in order to create a story which would peak middle class interest. The collection of stories feel like a ceaseless cycle of child neglect and abuse. Setting aside the whole controversy behind the LeRoy persona, the constant focus on trauma and abuse borders dangerously into "torture porn" categories. The abuse feels artificial and only placed for reader shock factor, especially since there is no greater message or purpose tied to the repeated actions. The writing failed to grab at my attention at its slowest moments and horrified me at its most egregious. I found myself asking what the point of this story even was and why people would willingly read a story which festers from the darkest parts of humanity. Had this not been a book I had received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I would not have finished the novel.
I realized early on in the book that its shock factor and controversies is the very reason that this book is a part of literary circles at all--seeing as the only worthwhile discussion this book offers a general audience is what it means for a book to be defined as a fictional work. Unfortunately, this would not be a book club discussion question had LeRoy's identity never been released as falsified, meaning that the book on its own merit has very little to offer. What's left is a disturbing narrative which exploits marginalized people for the sake of a warped middle class audience.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry