Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

19 reviews

rusticowgirl's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, and Confinement

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Xenophobia

Minor: Incest, Infertility, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

knittingarch's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

It started out very strong but the big reveal and final confrontation was very lackluster and disappointing. The body horror and hose descriptions, however, did creep me out so some parts of the novel were successful. I also hated the actual ending. Definition of trite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

elizas's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Highly unusual, and I really liked the way that 1950s Gothic tropes were transferred to Mexico. I felt the first half of the book was very slow, though, and the second half often grim. I would highly recommend checking content warnings if you have any triggers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Incest, Infidelity, Sexism, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Racism, Rape, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

trying_ceratops's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

My main problem with the book was the pacing. It was hard to get into but once it did, the mystery was great to unravel! It definitely felt like the gothic novels I’ve read before, so it is aptly titled. There is some character development, but it’s more about the story. I loved the reason for the mystery at the end and it was very new. 

Id recommend this book to people who enjoy a slow build and a touch of spookiness. I wouldn’t consider this horror by any means, but it can be creepy. I can understand the hype this book created and am glad I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Racism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Blood, and Cannibalism

ebp's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Miscarriage

angelfireeast24's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Had me on the edge of my seat. I both wanted to throw the book across the room due to the unsettling nature of the subject matter and read another page to know what will happen.

I like that in the end, there was no one person being the grand hero. Everyone had their moment. All I'm thinking at the end of the story is they better not have kids together. Cause I know that it will come again down the bloodline. Also, all three of their bodies better be burnt when they die

jessy4550's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Physical abuse, Vomit, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation

aparker89's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

Read this for book club not knowing what to expect. 
There is definitely a great atmosphere to this book. I had dreams specifically about the dread and mystery in this book while reading it. Overall, it's got a decent plot. Is Noemi's cousin insane? Is the house really haunted? Is there more to the story of High Place?
We get all the answers. I personally didn't like the answer to the great mystery but it isn't my book lol. I had two theories as to what it was straight away and one of them was relatively close to the author's chosen path. This is a medium paced book with a SLOW BURN! This book is primarily atmosphere with just a tiny bit of action. The action is ALL at the end. The main character is VERY shallow and not loveable at all but she does want to help her cousin and at least she has a relatable desire to help someone she loves. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

danimacuk's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Gun violence, Racism, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

badmom's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Intriguing mystery set in 1950s Mexico surrounding a young woman’s cousin, recently married but suddenly disengaging from her close-knit family. As the main character, a bold & brash (for the 1950s) adventurer, investigates she discovers that her cousin’s in-laws are essentially white supremacists. She also begins to realize their home harbors terrifying & dangerous secrets, and she might be ensnared as well. 
The story is engaging most of tge way & written with soaring, sumptuous imagery at the start but unfortunately unravels once the secrets are revealed - the language ultimately feels more melodramatic soap opera than true, rich gothic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment