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kice7788's review against another edition
4.0
This was the second time of me reading this book and it was good. I like the characters and the story line but I had to give it only 4 out of 5 stars because it could have gone deeper. I feel like you didn't really get callies story. But other then that it was a good look into some of those types of places. She is a great writer and very easy to follow!
whatthefuqgrey's review against another edition
4.0
[Incomplete] List of Triggers: Ableism, Eating Disorders, Self Harm, Selective Mutism
mamaboobear's review against another edition
I was a little confused with this book. I still don't know if I liked it or if I didn't.
hitbooksnotgirlz's review against another edition
2.0
As much as I wanted to, I just didn’t feel a connection to the main character. I know it’s an important topic, which is why I picked this book up, but overall I found the story to be rather dull. Not only that, but it felt unfinished, too.
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
mrsgrievous's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up in high school and read it several times. The main character is very relatable.
mesy_mark's review against another edition
2.75
In this book I must say for being a book about cutting the main character seems to know little about it and only did it very little before going to Sea Pines, a mental hospital. I gave it a three because of the audiobook format which is what got me through it. I have read this book both in audio and book format and in audio you can get that there is a little more personality with someone reading the tale.
But for all the research, I've (as someone who has cut for years) never dissociated while cutting and that seems to be a more PTSD reaction than cutting not to say that that can't happen but it would be a better fit if McCormick had a character that also dealt with trauma while also dealing with cutting. And the character that McCormick creates seems to just let everything go by her as if she is not really there. Just doing A and B to get C done but not living a life and I mean that as either surviving life, which is what most cutters are trying to do when they cut or thriving.
The tale did seem a little vague. As if the research into cutting needed to be better planned and while the workings of a mental health facility all run differently I can say that this one seemed like a logical setting. Rules were noted and not widely bending just for story sake. And the condition of the other patients could have gone more in depth and could have used variety. Most were ED girls and other disorders, like depression, is only touched on while other is regard for the really crazy patients which show stigma against mental illness. And that the fact that some also didn't seem to get cutting even though from personal experience many ED individuals do get self-harm to some degree because not everyone is just in for one reason. This limits the development of a full character, not saying that all have to engage in the activity but show sympathy towards mutual self-destruction.
Overall some aspects of the book were good but a lot could have been worked on like character development.
But for all the research, I've (as someone who has cut for years) never dissociated while cutting and that seems to be a more PTSD reaction than cutting not to say that that can't happen but it would be a better fit if McCormick had a character that also dealt with trauma while also dealing with cutting. And the character that McCormick creates seems to just let everything go by her as if she is not really there. Just doing A and B to get C done but not living a life and I mean that as either surviving life, which is what most cutters are trying to do when they cut or thriving.
The tale did seem a little vague. As if the research into cutting needed to be better planned and while the workings of a mental health facility all run differently I can say that this one seemed like a logical setting. Rules were noted and not widely bending just for story sake. And the condition of the other patients could have gone more in depth and could have used variety. Most were ED girls and other disorders, like depression, is only touched on while other is regard for the really crazy patients which show stigma against mental illness. And that the fact that some also didn't seem to get cutting even though from personal experience many ED individuals do get self-harm to some degree because not everyone is just in for one reason. This limits the development of a full character, not saying that all have to engage in the activity but show sympathy towards mutual self-destruction.
Overall some aspects of the book were good but a lot could have been worked on like character development.
honeyplot's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars really. It was okay I don't really have a promising opinion on it tbh