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emily_linn_26's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Drug use, Medical content, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
epeolatrist's review against another edition
dark
sad
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
3.25
I picked up this book in the library when I was 16 and an active self harmer. Ashamed of what I did and determined to keep it a secret, I put it back on the shelf and didn't pick it up again until a few months ago. I'm 21 now, just about ready to graduate college, but I still have my struggles with self harm. Cut hadn't left my mind since the day I found it five years ago. I found a used copy for cheap and on an impulse, I purchased it. It's been sitting on my shelf for months waiting to be opened. Today I finally read it.
It's an extremely short read at only 151 pages. I read it in a matter of hours. I think that, as I've read in many other comments, reading this and being critical of the book as a self harmer (active or not) is difficult. To someone who has never hurt themselves as Callie had, everything may seem like an accurate representation of cutting and what it's like to cut. In all honesty, I really did relate to Callie sometimes. Specifically when she claimed to be a bad person but had no idea as to why. I felt that.
However, I think that it's just a bit vague in terms of the WHY. I wish that Callie's therapist had helped her to realize what the cause of her cutting was. I think that it's pointless to ask "why do you think you're cutting" and then end there. Sure, psychology can be difficult to understand, especially for a 15 year old girl, but I personally think that both Callie and the readers would have benefitted from a genuine explanation about self harm.
My other issue is the treatment facility in which Callie stayed in. About 3 years ago, I was right in Callie's shoes, experiencing exactly what she was experiencing. I could be wrong, as every hospital is different, but most facilities wouldn't let you get away with shoving uneaten food into napkins and throwing up in the bathroom, especially not for a patient with an eating disorder. When I was treated, those with eating issues were accompanied to the bathroom and had to sing their ABCs for the attendant to ensure they were not purging and napkins/trays were always checked before being thrown away. These are just technicalities, I suppose, but for someone who has actually experienced this situation, it takes away some of the credibility of the story.
All in all, I by no means hated Cut. Really, I enjoyed it and I think that Callie's character had a lot of potential. To me, it just seemed a bit underdeveloped and a little too vague. I always hope for a sense of understanding in books about mental illness and I don't think this one hit that.
It's an extremely short read at only 151 pages. I read it in a matter of hours. I think that, as I've read in many other comments, reading this and being critical of the book as a self harmer (active or not) is difficult. To someone who has never hurt themselves as Callie had, everything may seem like an accurate representation of cutting and what it's like to cut. In all honesty, I really did relate to Callie sometimes. Specifically when she claimed to be a bad person but had no idea as to why. I felt that.
However, I think that it's just a bit vague in terms of the WHY. I wish that Callie's therapist had helped her to realize what the cause of her cutting was. I think that it's pointless to ask "why do you think you're cutting" and then end there. Sure, psychology can be difficult to understand, especially for a 15 year old girl, but I personally think that both Callie and the readers would have benefitted from a genuine explanation about self harm.
My other issue is the treatment facility in which Callie stayed in. About 3 years ago, I was right in Callie's shoes, experiencing exactly what she was experiencing. I could be wrong, as every hospital is different, but most facilities wouldn't let you get away with shoving uneaten food into napkins and throwing up in the bathroom, especially not for a patient with an eating disorder. When I was treated, those with eating issues were accompanied to the bathroom and had to sing their ABCs for the attendant to ensure they were not purging and napkins/trays were always checked before being thrown away. These are just technicalities, I suppose, but for someone who has actually experienced this situation, it takes away some of the credibility of the story.
All in all, I by no means hated Cut. Really, I enjoyed it and I think that Callie's character had a lot of potential. To me, it just seemed a bit underdeveloped and a little too vague. I always hope for a sense of understanding in books about mental illness and I don't think this one hit that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
Moderate: Chronic illness and Medical content
Minor: Addiction
chey46's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Mental illness
izzyrose8's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
amwilson947's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
carsonedfors's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
extremely triggering, does nothing to actually inform about mental illnesses. hospitalizations aren't like this. me and so many others have read this just to trigger ourselves, there is no need for a book like this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, and Addiction
nothing but extremely triggering. do NOT read if you struggle with self harm, suicidal thoughts, or eating disordersthisbookishcat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
2.0
I've read many books about depression, mental illnesses, and people in these sorts of situations. I am also someone who has experienced many of these thoughts and situations in my youth (which is when I read this book), and I feel this is not at all an accurate representation of what it is like. This feels like someone wanted to write a book and capitalize on the fact that these sorts of novels were selling very well at the time. I don't feel that the author has ever experienced anything like what is described in the book, nor did she talk to anyone who had these sorts of experiences. Honestly, it felt more like she read a source about depression and self-harm from the late 90s or early 2000s, when people still weren't that open about what was really going on inside their heads, and rolled with it.
I would not recommend this to anyone who is looking for material they can relate to, or material that they want to read to try to relate to someone they know.
I would not recommend this to anyone who is looking for material they can relate to, or material that they want to read to try to relate to someone they know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
tinie_frogie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Eating disorder
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Violence
I cried so much, at the time during my reading I was struggling with overcoming my own battles and this book made me reflect on how much I struggled and how far along in my journey I was. Especially with the authors note speaking about how much care she put into this story, just added so much more emotionvermethys's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Mental illness
Minor: Eating disorder and Vomit
smodderman's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was interesting to see her progression towards accepting help from others. I would have liked to see more of her journey towards healing and developing coping skills.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Self harm, Eating disorder, and Addiction
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Drug abuse