Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

A Dream of a Woman by Casey Plett

3 reviews

booksthatburn's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

I am familiar with framing devices in short story collections, but the second time "Absolution" appeared I was surprised because I thought it had been a one-off story of a person navigating a relationship and the possibility that it wasn’t quite what he wanted. Then, a couple of stories later, "Absolution" appeared again with the next chapter of his life. It formed a refrain, a transformational core, running through the heart of this collection, allowing for a slow unfolding and twisting of story in a single character. I let each of the various segments of what eventually is her life get to stand alone, having room to breathe, allowing for a transformation across decades in a way that would normally be harder to get across in a short story. There are many ways of being trans, and of being a trans woman. Most of these stories focus on trans women navigating relationships and interpersonal interactions in a way that’s very focused on their underlying thoughts and feelings to whatever degree they’re able to process or express them. Some stories take place over years or even decades, and others occur in just a few days. 

Some of the stories convey the shifting weirdness of existing in a body that changes in ways which other people aren’t expecting, and the range of reactions to that reality. People living lives that are shaped by this thing that they have in common, told in a manner that allows for meandering meandering and blurriness around the edges. This is an absorbing and fascinating collection, and I highly recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, Cursing, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Eating disorder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Dysphoria, Death, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Drug use, Self harm, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Rape, Vomit, and War

"Hazel and Christopher" - Moderate CW for grief, sexual content, alcohol, alcoholism, homophobia, transphobia, lesbophobia, violence. Minor CW for vomit, suicide, parental death, death. "Absolution" - Moderate CW for cursing, sexual content, sexual assault, homophobia, transphobia, alcohol, vomit, drug use. "Perfect Places" - Graphic CW for sexual content. Moderate CW for dysmorphia, dysphoria, transphobia. Minor CW for vomit. “Couldn’t Hear You Talk Anymore” - Moderate CW for transphobia, misgendering, alcohol, eating disorder, self harm, suicide attempt. “Rose City, City of Roses” - Moderate CW for grief, sexual content, pandemic, death. “Enough Trouble” - Graphic CW for sexual content, alcohol, alcoholism. Minor CW for transphobia, war, rape.

pizzasprite's review

emotional inspiring reflective 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

Plett is a master of creating intimate, personable characters revolving around both cozy and challenging situations. Her characters are deeply flawed, but also so lovable and sympathetic. If I have one criticism, it's that all the short stories began to blend together after a while. I think Plett's writing really shines when she carves out enough space for her characters to really flesh themselves out, such as in Little Fish. I really enjoyed the interspersed stories of Vera, and almost wish the whole book had been just that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, and Vomit

boy_topics's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, and Vomit