Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin

5 reviews

sakisreads's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.5

As I was going to Taiwan soon, I wanted to read some Taiwanese literature and this was highly recommended on a lot of lists 👏🏼

I loved the queerness of it all. It was very, very gay and I loved that 🏳️‍🌈
Simultaneously, it was very tortured and I felt upset only being able to read depressing queer literature, rather than joyous queer literature. 

I totally didn’t get the reference to crocodiles until I read someone else’s review, my bad 😂

I’m giving this 3.5 out of 5 stars, thank you ✨

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body horror, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Addiction, and Toxic friendship

k_aro's review

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I'm not really sure what to make of this book. It's obviously very historically interesting, but there's something about this book that has now become... banal? Something about these themes of corruption reminds me of The Picture of Dorian Gray, which itself has its own host of queer undertones. Obviously Miaojin's writing (and the translation of it) is deeply affective in lots of moments, and hilariously enough because this was a darling for a friend of mine it has given me deeper insights into their psyche.

It's just not mindblowing to me - though, considering the books I have read, probably shouldn't be that much of a shock.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Self harm, Stalking, Abandonment, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Contextually, this book takes place probably around Qiu Miaojin's actual lifespan; however, because this is mostly internal, the homo and lesbophobia are largely internalized. Most of the characters are actually queer on some level lol

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, Death, Vomit, Violence, Gore, Body horror, Infidelity, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Pedophilia, Drug use, Car accident, Rape, Sexual content, Ableism, Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Excrement

leanne_miron's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Physical abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

ohlhauc's review

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, and Violence

Minor: Medical content and Sexual content