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shiv91's reviews
1019 reviews
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Like others, I found this a very difficult book to review and I debated with myself whether or not to even add it the book. I do think her story matters and she needs to have her voice after it was silenced for so long.
It was raw, emotional and disturbing. To go through what Jaycee went through and not only survive, but to actually begin to heal and try to move on in life shows how strong a person she is.
The sheer amount of manipulation and outright horror she endured was awful to read, to try and put myself in her shoes is something that makes me feel sick to even think about.
I realise that the chance at a proper education was taken away from her which I completely understand but I personally found it difficult to follow along with. I know she wanted to write this experience as she remembered it but I feel that perhaps if she waited another while to gather her thoughts more, it would have translated better on paper.
There was a lot of repetition which made me wish there had been some kind of editor involved and I didn't really understand the short addition of those few diary entries.
At the end of the day though, if writing this book was cathartic and helped her through the hell she suffered then it really doesn't matter what I think of the actual writing style/level. I'm not the one who was put through more awful things than anyone should have to endure.
It was raw, emotional and disturbing. To go through what Jaycee went through and not only survive, but to actually begin to heal and try to move on in life shows how strong a person she is.
The sheer amount of manipulation and outright horror she endured was awful to read, to try and put myself in her shoes is something that makes me feel sick to even think about.
I realise that the chance at a proper education was taken away from her which I completely understand but I personally found it difficult to follow along with. I know she wanted to write this experience as she remembered it but I feel that perhaps if she waited another while to gather her thoughts more, it would have translated better on paper.
There was a lot of repetition which made me wish there had been some kind of editor involved and I didn't really understand the short addition of those few diary entries.
At the end of the day though, if writing this book was cathartic and helped her through the hell she suffered then it really doesn't matter what I think of the actual writing style/level. I'm not the one who was put through more awful things than anyone should have to endure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
The Stand by Stephen King
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Stephen King is one of my favourite authors so I was excited to read this but had put it off a while. It's a big book and I needed time to prepare myself for it haha.
As is to be expected with King, his descriptions are so good that it feels like you're there with the characters, experiencing what they're experiencing, both good and bad.
I really liked the plot, exactly my kind of thing and I appreciated the characters development throughout the book. You get to experience both sides in this and it's interesting comparing the "bad" and "good" people in it.
I didn't give a full 5 stars because even though I enjoy long books, I sometimes felt that it wasn't necessary for this particular book to be over 1000 pages.
If you like post apocalyptic thrillers with creepy bad guys in, you're in for a treat!
As is to be expected with King, his descriptions are so good that it feels like you're there with the characters, experiencing what they're experiencing, both good and bad.
I really liked the plot, exactly my kind of thing and I appreciated the characters development throughout the book. You get to experience both sides in this and it's interesting comparing the "bad" and "good" people in it.
I didn't give a full 5 stars because even though I enjoy long books, I sometimes felt that it wasn't necessary for this particular book to be over 1000 pages.
If you like post apocalyptic thrillers with creepy bad guys in, you're in for a treat!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Angela and Diabola by Lynne Reid Banks
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
4.0
I read this book when I was 8 or 9 back in the 90s. I remember really loving it and recently, I came across it again and decided to re-read it.
However, what I do not remember is it being quite so dark! For a kids book at least, it's pretty intense in my opinion. When I first read it, I didn't like any of the characters and as adult, I'm of the same thinking it seems! I actually preferred Diabola to Angela haha.
A good read, even as an adult but I'd say if your child is in any way sensitive to violence or similar, that this book may not be for them.
A part of the book that stuck with me was:
"...She said terrible things. I said terrible things. I hate myself. I'm sorry dear, but I don't think I can carry on."
However, what I do not remember is it being quite so dark! For a kids book at least, it's pretty intense in my opinion. When I first read it, I didn't like any of the characters and as adult, I'm of the same thinking it seems! I actually preferred Diabola to Angela haha.
A good read, even as an adult but I'd say if your child is in any way sensitive to violence or similar, that this book may not be for them.
"...She said terrible things. I said terrible things. I hate myself. I'm sorry dear, but I don't think I can carry on."
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement and Blood
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tough book to read (emotionally) and at times a bit boring. In that dragged on for certain things. For example; when describing a location it seemed to go on for far too many pages.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked the idea of it and reading about mental health issues was relatable for me but found quite a bit of the book boring.
Killer Camera by Anthony Horowitz
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Probably would have been better to read these as a kid but I still really enjoyed them. Not particularly scary but they were well written.
I'm a Therapist, and My Patient is a Vegan Terrorist by Dr. Harper
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
One of the weirdest series' I've read but I still somehow enjoyed it. The way this book was written compared to the others I found a bit off putting though.
I'm a Therapist, and My Patient is In Love with a Pedophile: 6 Patient Files From Prison by Dr. Harper
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm a Therapist, and My Patient is Going to be the Next School Shooter by Dr. Harper
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Um.