Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

10 reviews

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse and Physical abuse

k_shimer's review against another edition

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: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sp00kyx's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book made me feel physically sick. Just writing this makes me feel anxious and makes me shake. When I finished it all I wanted to do was to cry, but I couldn’t I just sat there, shaking and feeling nauseous. If you compare the movie to the book, the movie was literally a children’s movie in comparison to the book. The book was so well written and was really immersive. I loved seeing Frank’s thoughts and emotions behind the scenes I had seen in the movie, though I would have loved to have seen April’s point of view as well. Frank was an even bigger asshole than he was in the movie and I felt for April even more. Watching their relationship fall apart with each page was so unnerving (the plan to move to Paris being way less prominent than it was in the movie) and the ending broke my heart into a million pieces. I knew what was coming, but I spent so much time with the characters, especially April and to read what happened to her honestly hurt so bad. It was also so much more descriptive and the aftermath was described so much more vividly, exasperating the pain I felt. By the end all I wanted to do was to scream and cry and punch a wall. I have so many emotions inside of me right now I can’t even put it into words.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Abandonment, and Alcohol

jeslis's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Notes:
- This book is totally up my alley! Lyrical, atmospheric writing and very character driven.
- Loved the way it describes past and present events that alludes to this undercurrent of emptiness, disappointment and a haunting loss of something unrealised despite the "perfect" facade.

- That breakfast scene man :') Really got me good, that feeling of loss before the loss has happened really hits my wheelhouse.

- Not top tier fav book just yet but getting real close!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Abortion

Moderate: Death and Suicide

signeskov's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

I picked up this read with no larger expectations than a 1950s suburban drama (possibly inspired by the fact that I at one point in my life had watched the DeCaprio and Winslet movie trailer), but was pleasantly surprised that what I got was a suburban tragedy. Especially the last 50 pages or so of the book brought out interesting character arcs, and I think the very last two paragraphs of the book closes off the tale exquisitely.

Revolutionary Road showcases interesting thoughts on gender, toxic relationships, monogamous marriages, bodily autonomy, and the freedom to chase dreams. Part of the act seems the way it is written from a male gaze but somehow still manages to express a critique towards the very same and how patriarcal structures damage not just the lives of women, but also clearly hinders men from achieving true happiness in their relationships and in themselves as individuals. Perhaps this a feminist reading of 2023, but I think it was either way an interesting one.

One thing is sure: this tragedy makes you fear the conformity of surburban life and choosing to lean into the heteronormative roles that society has given you. Playing along without thinking twice carries its consequences.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Abortion

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Homophobia

wondering_hannah88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Abortion

mondovertigo's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse and War

gabedon's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, and Alcohol

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy

jennalynn48's review

dark emotional slow-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

lucyembers's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

My other favourite piece of fiction. An introspective look into marriage, societal ideals and the position of women in the 1950s. Depicts the frustrations of suburban life in a gritty and honest way- these characters are easily empathised with, even if their actions could be questioned from a moral perspective. Read if you enjoy something that is turbulent, yet set against the mundane nature of married life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship