Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

102 reviews

writersrelief's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-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

4.0

 

Jen Beagin’s third novel, BIG SWISS, promises an eccentric, raunchy, darkly hilarious time. Set in Hudson, New York—a haven for weird, artsy misfits—BIG SWISS is jam-packed full of intentional and memorable oddities. The main character, Greta, works as a transcriptionist for a sex therapist who calls himself Om and who loves to do sound baths with his clients. Through her work, Greta is privy to the deepest, strangest secrets of Om’s many clients (and boy, are some of them strange!). Even Greta’s home is notably strange: It’s an ancient farmhouse which she shares with her roommate, Sabine, who makes and sells edibles to the locals. The house is falling apart and there’s no insulation, but there are bees—thousands of them. 

 

Although the relentlessness of Beagin’s quirky details can at times become tiresome, they certainly grab a reader’s attention. And while they don’t really stop or slow down, the oddities are eventually somewhat tempered by the very human traumas and experiences that begin to make themselves known as the darker underbelly of this oddball sex comedy starts to show itself. 

 

Though Greta keeps her distance from Om’s clients, she can recognize them in the voices she hears around town and delights in the secrets she knows about these people. This isn’t a problem until Greta recognizes one voice in particular—that of a stoic, married woman Om has just begun seeing, and whom Greta is fascinated with. Greta introduces herself with a fake name and eventually begins a secret affair with the woman, whom she had previously nicknamed “Big Swiss” but whose real name is Flavia. 

 

Flavia and Greta both have traumatic pasts. But, while Flavia is dead-set against leaving hers behind, Greta, even after moving across the country to get away, is constantly emotionally tortured by hers. Their vastly different approaches to trauma become clear through their relationship, and the book gives itself space to explore this theme. The layers of darkness, danger, and plot come together rapidly from here on out, following the story’s multiple plot threads to places you would never have seen coming. The quirky cast of characters, the intentionally strange setting, the witty dialogue, and the fairly fast-paced prose all help to lighten the heavy loads of Flavia and Greta’s horrifying backstories, keeping the book from veering into overly-sentimental territory. The result is an intensely entertaining read that manages to explore dark themes without becoming overpowered by them. 

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, and Suicide

alecrigdon's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Sexual content and Physical abuse

Moderate: Stalking and Violence

candeegirl's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

I am head over heels for this book. I love complicated (especially queer female) characters. Greta was an incredible narrator, I loved being in her kind of fucked up brain, I loved Big Swiss and her conversations about trauma (I don't think its ableist- I think sometimes people forget that humans are flawed? and have reasoning for black and white thinking)

I found this book to be dark and hilarious. Felt almost similar to a Gillian Flynn novel due to the descriptions and such rich characters. I think Big Swiss and Greta are pieces of myself and all women, loved a good seedy underbelly. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, and Physical abuse

kenny1's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

kelleywithanextrae's review against another edition

dark emotional funny slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Minor: Addiction, Blood, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Infertility, Murder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death

jussmcam's review against another edition

dark funny inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Stalking, Gun violence, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Violence, Medical trauma, Grief, Suicide, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder

bethanybreton's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Huge change-up from my normal genre, but very welcome. The author’s writing had a way of drawing me into the characters. I could’ve kept reading about Greta’s life for another 300 pages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, and Death of parent

cousingoose's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, and Stalking

maryyyyyy's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

Critics will call this an "irreverent romp" or "scandalously funny." Very unique, I couldn't put it down, but I'm undecided on the ending. LOTS of content warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Drug use, Grief, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cursing, and Sexual content

kers_tin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship