Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Dig by A.S. King

22 reviews

beccam22's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I have heard this book pitched many time to me and I don’t think anyone I have heard talk about this book has read this book. Yes it’s kind of about potatoes, a pita or farmer, a character is called the shoveler. 

But this book is about racism, this book is about generational trauma and breaking out of that. This book is about trusting the next generation is not just lazy, whiney, and stupid kids. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

all of the characters are connected, the grandmother is I would say the most racist which is routed in receiving “black blood” after an accident that almost killed her and needing a blood transfusion following, being told she had “black blood” and feeling dirty/unpure ever sense. She passed this racism down to one child, the others have tried to do better. Her husband does get sick of her shit near the end of the book and wants to do better. The grandchildren all recognize the racism and want to do better. There is mention of white supremacy, neo-nazism, and hate crimes. There is also a character who is introduced as a very likable and caring person and come summer when he wears short sleeves has a “100% white power” tattoo. There are teenagers being recruited to join white supremacy groups outside their school. There is a girl who was kidnapped, raped, murdered, and buried in the woods but is not gone into in detail until the end of the book. A female character talks about douching with turpentine multiple times in the book.

ferdie's review

challenging dark mysterious fast-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

4.25

It is so rare that you see a book about white people discussing their race. I am so glad Dig exists and opens the door to reckon with the way white supremacy has a real impact on white people- it takes away responsibility and humanity. This book gives grace while holding white people responsibility for racism. It sometimes told rather than showed (especially in the beginning) but the ending was fantastic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

katiemack's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

I’m gonna be thinking about this one for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Rape and Murder

katonthejellicoe's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

A.S. KING IS OFFICIALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE YA AUTHORS. no one could write complex YA stories than her (and Melina Marchetta). i'm officially obsessed.

FAVE FAVE FAVE FAVE FAAAAAVE

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer, Kidnapping, and Murder

supersol375's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Incest and Rape

heatherdinh's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Racism

annakait's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Rape and Murder

pamshenanigans's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Dig has interconnected stories and journal-like POVs of a family filled with mysteries and secrets that cannot stay hidden forever. 

This is my first A.S. King and it definitely will not be the last. The writing style worked perfectly for the story and the themes being spotlighted in Dig. It may throw off some readers how only descriptions like "The Freak" and "The Shoveler" were used for some characters since most of the names were revealed towards the end of the book when more was being revealed and all the stories were being wrapped up. But I honestly found that fascinating (though admittedly I got more confused when I found out about their names lol) 

Dig is definitely an uncomfortable yet powerful read that tackles generational trauma (and how it could be different for each generation as well as their coping mechanisms), racism, mental health, and white privilege. 

It's an unforgettable book that I will surely revisit again sometime in the future. 

Trigger/Content Warnings: homophobia, racism, mention of rape, physical assault, cancer, suicide, domestic violence

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

space_bandit's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Rape and Murder

bubbadina's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Racism

Moderate: Sexual violence and Murder

Minor: Domestic abuse