venusmage's review against another edition
- 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
Less “overt” horror and more conceptual, based on metaphors. If reality-breaking narratives wig you out then maybe skip it, otherwise I’d highly recommend. I hate to say it’s an “you get it, or you don’t” sort of book, but I believe that is indeed the case. It’s a modern classic for a reason.
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, and Animal death
Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual assault
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Pedophilia
lookleft's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, and Rape
avacadosocks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Animal death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Gore, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Terminal illness, Incest, Vomit, Cancer, and Pedophilia
thestorydoer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book is scary, yeah, but only occasionally. it's filled with long ramblings that almost felt like a train of thought. Unfortunately, I couldn't focus on the book so often, I missed a lot of the plot elements. Yet I stuck it out because the scary elements in this book are incredibly clever. Most of the other scary factors will be found not in the ramblings itself, but the afterthought and questioning of those ramblings. That being said, I think I should've read something else.
It took me so long because I struggle reading books which break flow. This constantly asks the reader to jump around the book. This is what I tried on my first attempt but the book made no sense. therefore, it is best read as a linear story on a first read, and a non-linear story on a second. although, I did skip a lot of the appendix mentions because I just couldn't be bothered.
I can imagine this being very good for some people as it can be genuinely terrifying. However, if you are at all in my demographic (ADHD, doesn't ponder on stories and details afterward, prefers an ebb and flow in your books), you may not like this. Spend your $75 on 3 $25 books by your local Dymocks instead.
Overall, 3/5. Genuinely scary at times but I personally struggled reading 70% of it. You probably won't like it if you're anything like me.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
13octopus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Infidelity
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Incest
5am's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Car accident
Moderate: Rape
Minor: War, Cancer, and Cannibalism
everyotherpageorso's review against another edition
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Rape
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia
marigo1ds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape and Pedophilia
jerusha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, Confinement, Blood, Addiction, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Child abuse
Minor: Ableism, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Child death, and Cancer
otherworlds's review against another edition
- 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
I highly recommend it! That being said, please heed the trigger warnings and take care of yourself while reading this book. It's very graphic and upsetting at times, especially if you're already prone to derealization or paranoia.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Cursing, Confinement, Islamophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Incest, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Blood and Suicide
Minor: Animal death
Unreality and paranoia. May be triggering for psychotic/dissociative readers.