Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia E. Butler

6 reviews

dustytealeaf's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

gemstonejasper's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This was a great adaptation of the original book. It's been years since I read the original, so I thought I'd pick this up to scratch that itch without having to read all of Kindred again (I'm in the middle of Octavia Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy, so I didn't want to get her writing confused). At first, the art seemed jarring. But the more I read, the more I realized that the art is a perfect fit for the story. 

It's a heartbreaking story that explores Dana's perspective as she is repeatedly pulled into the past to save the life of Rufus, her distant white ancestor. The first time she is pulled back, he is just a child and she saves his life. Each time she goes, he has aged up anywhere from months to years. To keep her family line going, and ensure her own existence, Dana has to keep Rufus alive long enough for his child to be born. But that's not easy. The story gives you no other choice but to watch as a child, innocent as any other, is corrupted by his family, culture, time, experiences, etc., and becomes a disgusting plantation owner.

Don't expect to read this in one sitting. Some books can be read that fast, and some people may be able to do that here. But the horror of the subject matter makes it very hard to read in one sitting. I had to take frequent breaks to process what had happened. But I really loved the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

emrockwell14's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I haven’t read the original book, but feel like if I had there would have been just enough more detail to make this a 5 star read. Even seeing what was cut from the prologue (as shown at the end in the “process of making this adaptation” section) due to space constraints made me wonder what was else was missing from the original. Otherwise, this story was gripping and the illustrations made it come to life in ways that haunt me still after reading it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage and Death of parent

hmetwade's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

kelseyr713's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Excellent adaptation of the novel. I enjoyed the art style and artistic choices made throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcohol

peachani's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Alcohol