Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

So Sad Today: Personal Essays by Melissa Broder

24 reviews

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Vomit

Moderate: Alcohol, Abortion, and Drug use

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

sleeson's review against another edition

Extremely graphic sexual content. Lots unnecessary swearing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, and Sexual content

meemawreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

5.0

“The ocean gives me performance anxiety about being at peace.”

I wasn’t raised Jewish. I don’t have a vomit fetish. I haven’t done hard drugs, had an eating disorder, or been in a poly relationship. AND YET I feel like these essays came from my own brain. That’s the mark of excellence in personal essay, isn’t it? To write a unique life so relatably that an ole Meemaw feels connected to experiences she’s never had. I especially love how much I loved this because I didn’t love her novel, Milk Fed. Proof that I’m a nonfiction gal to the core! AND proof that while I struggle to connect with poetry, prose written by poets continues to pop my corn every time! Five Taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Sexual content and Chronic illness

qi_'s review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

2.5

this was ... a lot. 

overall, i did enjoy the personal essay and melissa broder has interesting thoughts that she throws in that did make me think about my own position on things (for example, how being born in nonconsensual). i still enjoy her writing style; it's engaging, accessible, detailed and funny. this was a great book for in-between classes and waiting periods since i could read an essay and then move on with my day. 

i would also like to shout out the essay about her husband, their relationship and his illness. this was one of the last ones in the collection but it felt the most.. real and vulnerable since she was not only talking about her personal relationship issues but of her partner as well.

however, i didn't really click that much with it. some of the essays and the essay formats (the conversation with her higher self on google hangouts) felt random and although she is allowed to express herself however, she wants to it didn't translate that well in my opinion. i found myself becoming very bored in some essays and it would cause a reading slump then jumping in and finding one i really love, as is what happens in most essay collections for me. 

finally, huge content warning. i haven't shared any of her experiences however, the way she writes about them was very confronting? like i wasn't triggered but a common reaction was 'wow this is a lot'. i don't knock her down for this but i think the graphic nature of her storytelling should be noted before engaging with the book especially if you have gone through the same experiences. 

here is a list of quotes i liked:
"i am a superficial woman of depth"

"is it worth being so talented if you have to suffer from a profound sensitivity that is intrinsically connected to your gifts?"

"i have the brain of an addiction and the heart of a sixteen year girl"

"there was adam, who was cute, but into bukowski, so no"

"all i want from you is to be liked. of course, that is a scared women's way of saying what i really want, which is to connect with you on a deep and true level while i am still on this earth, and maybe even after i am off it"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Vomit

nosophiesallowed's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

just look at the list of trigger warnings before even thinking about reading this.

i loved how open and raw these essays are but if you like clean and tidy books with pretty things and happy endings you’re going to hate it.

(i was sent a free copy from the publisher) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Mental illness

Minor: Abortion

kate_kathleen's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

YIKES!! This is one gut punch of a memoir. Like most of Broder's books it's visceral and cuts deep. Part of me scoffs at her seemingly immature logic, but most of me relates to the intense pressure, self-loathing and self-sabotage that comes with trying to be a person in the world, with trying to figure out life, with trying to be loved by yourself and others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Addiction, Sexual content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Eating disorder

deadegg1's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.0

there were some essays that i rlly liked and some essays i didnt but overall it was very relatable and good writing. i honestly admire her ability to (over)share all her thoughts like this bc i would neverrrr. but it made me feel less alone in a way? some parts were def unnecessary imo though. what i didn't like was the way she talked about gay people (even though shes bi herself). and that whole sexual predator thing???? wtf. she also fetishizes fat women. btw DON'T read if u have emetophobia bc theres an essay about vomit 😬

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Eating disorder, and Sexual content

Minor: Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual violence

mmadill227's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Vomit

Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, Eating disorder, and Mental illness

Minor: Abortion, Chronic illness, and Suicidal thoughts

angel_kiiss's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

I know some people have come away not liking this collection, but I found it really relatable. What Broder says about depression, anxiety, and general existentialism resonated with me as a lot of it is stuff I’ve thought and been troubled by, too. 

When she touched on some political topics I did seen how it could cross the line into “white feminist-y” territory, but within the overall confessional context of the book I believe that she was coming from an honest place that every good meaning, anti racist, white person comes from. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Excrement, and Vomit

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder

megancrayne's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Vomit, Mental illness, and Sexual content