Reviews tagging 'Cannibalism'

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed: Stories, by Mariana Enríquez

86 reviews

cosyskog's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories, and it definitely needs to come with multiple content warnings. However, maybe the ugliness of some of the characters is the real horror, the unspoken realisation that they are just like people we already know. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Sexual violence, Child death, Child abuse, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Excrement, Grief, Body shaming, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide, Ableism, Classism, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Cursing, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, and Violence

Minor: Car accident, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Police brutality

nathalie_tl's review against another edition

2.75

really mixed for me? a lot of stories started off with a lot of potential and the creepy, morbid vibe i really love, but the endings were often rushed and didn't deliver on the tension the stories built up. i will say though that Where Are You, Dear Heart? and Meat were excellent, but other than that i felt mostly meh. 

also had to bring rating down because the transphobic slurs were not it. and do check content warnings in general if you're interested in reading this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Death, Drug abuse, Cannibalism, Gore, Addiction, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Transphobia, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

denlia's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal death, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Excrement, Homophobia, Death, Drug use, Terminal illness, and Transphobia

cady_sass's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I never read anthologies, because I know myself and I want more depth, more character development, a plot arc. But this book has been calling to me. I’m very glad I finally picked it up. A couple of the short stories I hated, most of them I loved. It feels like the translator really did the original work justice, the prose is gorgeous and vivid and gritty, but someone who’s read the original Spanish will have to say for sure. There’s certainly some triggering imagery so proceed with caution. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Classism, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Abandonment, Animal death, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Excrement, Injury/injury detail, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Violence, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual assault

itsgeesus's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense

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

3.75

This was a really interesting read and one that can be read quite quickly. I was hooked on this mysterious entity that haunted Buenos Aires and thought that the author had portrayed it in such a magnificent way. It was morbid, but not in a way that is usually blood, guts, and gore, but more psychiatrically morbid. The way each story is written plays with the mind, which made it all the more enjoyable. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Self harm, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Drug use, Pedophilia, Body horror, Transphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

maisiehcrb's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Cannibalism, Murder, Mental illness, Suicide, Death, Pedophilia, Gore, and Sexual violence

franzys_whip's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Blood, Gore, Ableism, Death, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Cannibalism, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Body horror, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Excrement, Self harm, and Murder

Moderate: Racism, Classism, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape

Minor: Grief

It's...definitely a lot, but I swear this book is so good beyond all that

maybebon's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Gore

Moderate: Cannibalism, Blood, and Body horror

Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Transphobia

dale1997's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Pedophilia, Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Torture, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Gore, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Child death, Transphobia, and Violence

emmalouisereads's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• 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

I think, as with most short stories, some stories you enjoy and others just aren’t. 

Many of these stories were only about 10 pages which I think is just not long enough for me to get invested.  

I preferred the stories that were a little creepy, especially the longest story in the book ‘the kids who came back’. I didn’t particularly enjoy the stories that weren’t scary and instead were just absolutely vile (on purpose I’m sure). I had to take breaks between stories as some turned my stomach. So, if that’s what you’re looking for - this is the short story collection for you! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cannibalism, Suicide, Body horror, Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Self harm

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Pedophilia