Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

26 reviews

minalinalu's review

dark emotional 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

3.5

If I am honest, this was the most energy draining book I ever read. Not spesificly because of the writing style or the amount of pages (even if both of it was also challenging), it was mostly a very tiring read because of its slowness. The slowness of character actions that as they were over still seemed like they never changed the story, the slowness of devolpment that I only seemed to really notice at the very beginning and the very end, as if there was nothing but void between those two points.
I wouldn't recomend this book because for me it never seemed to give the reader anything but a challenging read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Vomit

gabriellamichalek's review

challenging inspiring medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment

alg's review

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

While perusing other reviews on this book, I noticed some readers found the writing too flowery and long winded. I disagree. I thought it was beautifully written, with several passages I wrote down. I did find it icky that the only character of color is a sex worker who is described as exotic?? Idk that makes my alarm bells go off. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment

holly_mc's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity

autumnsmartin's review

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt

georgiapeach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

Absolutely beautifully written and incredibly heart wrenching read. It will leave you thinking about it for years to come. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship