Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

12 reviews

jeleigh16's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.5

This was a super intense memoir that I don't think I was fully prepared for. I've always been intrigued by stories about cults and cult-like behavior, so I was prepared for that aspect of this story,

but I don't think I was prepared for the intense descriptions of repeated child sexual assault and deaths that occurred in the course of this woman's life.

This is not one to jump into lightly. That being said, it is a thorough, honest, raw look at one person's experience escaping a polygamist cult. A story worth telling for sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

ashleysilver7's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

I read this book for a book club, and at first I didn't think I'd be able to finish it. However, Ruth's writing and storytelling were very compelling, and I ended up enjoying the book. A very general summary: This is Ruth's story of growing up in a polygamous compound in Mexico. She endured many hardships and abuse, but luckily lived to tell her story and came out on the other side. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

ashpeckk's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

daniellekat's review

challenging dark sad fast-paced

3.25

A heartbreaking account of the author's upbringing and escape from a fundamentalist Christian community. Objectively, this was sad. It was challenging to read about the author's abuse through the childhood lens used throughout the book, but as a reader I felt insulated from really feeling anything from this story. There was a dissociative element that failed to connect me to the narrative. There was also a level of unreliability given that this was told entirely from a child's perspective. I wish the author had included more reflection on how her upbringing contributed to her adult life. I also wish that there were more details in the beginning helping to ground the timeline of the story. It wasn't until the last few chapters did we get a real sense of the years captured in this book. Not something I would have normally picked up but the language was simple making this a pretty quick read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Car accident

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

Minor: Suicide

aimesericks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

nefariousfondue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

If you have a particularly fragile emotional state do not read this. This book threw me into a mental health crisis. 
The experiences in it are valuable. Ruth Wariner's childhood is fascinating, but gut-wrenchingly tragic and infuriating. I have nothing bad to say about the writing or the book itself.
But please, read with caution and seek help if you are going through a crisis.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Bullying and Car accident

sampinter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I cannot say enough great things about Ruth Wariner's memoir. I truly could not put this story down and anytime I had to, I was telling other readers about this incredible story. Wariner details so many challenges that she overcame as a child and teenager and describes the ways she was able to be an advocate and protector of her siblings. Although I was often upset and frustrated by her treatment and the content of this story, it was her authentic journey and I am so glad she was able to share everything she was faced with. Wariner is a beautiful story-teller and such an incredibly strong person and I am so glad she was able to share this story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment

jackieyvette's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

Got this recommendation from TikTok and went in mostly blind, but was pleasantly surprised. Ruth writes like a friend telling you a story and it’s something you need when reading about this topic. I finished it in one sitting and can say it’s a book I’ll probably never read again, but in a good way. 

Crying score: none, but I felt it in my heart and the pit of my stomach. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

karolinaz's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Vomit, and Medical trauma

Minor: Body horror, Cursing, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Sexual harassment