Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld

7 reviews

ursa_arlo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Positives. Marieke Lucas Rijneveld is a master when it comes to the Dutch language. The writing style was wonderfully poetic and each new event layered onto each other to reveal new and hidden meanings. Example spoiler.

(Like the last plague, 'Darkness', leading Jas to the basement where she crawls into the freezer to be close to Mathias, which is also the day on which she is supposed to 'go to the other side' of the lake with Hanna.)

The book is also supremely uncomfortable; the things Jas does make sense through her reasoning and her innocent view of things which helps her cope with the death of her brother and the subsequent abuse she suffers. All in all, this is a beautiful book, not for the faint of heart, about the different ways in which grief can spiral and corrupt.

Negatives. This book is as Dutch as can be in its subject matter. The events described are unapologetically horrible and I do not find that appealing. While I could, to an extent, put myself in the shoes of this traumatized, reformist, farmer's family in the early 2000's, I greatly disliked the taboo subjects covered, the animal cruelty, the sexual and physical abuse, etc. You really need to have the stomach for it. 

Quote. "'Weet je," zeg ik terwijl ik mijn neus in haar haren duw die naar Zwitsal ruiken. "Ik wil wel groter worden maar niet dat mijn armen mee groeien. Nu pas jij er precise in.' Hannah is even stil en zegt dan: 'Als ze te groot worden, sla ik ze net als mijn wintersjaal gewoon twee keer om mij heen." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Child death, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Excrement, Death, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Abortion and Antisemitism

annniina98's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Grief, Incest, and Child death

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Abortion

erikwmj's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child abuse, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Antisemitism, Blood, Abortion, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Body shaming, and Ableism

jytteanne's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Violence, Vomit, Abortion, Excrement, Grief, and Self harm

thirdtimesacharm's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Grief, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Toxic friendship, Incest, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Self harm, and Sexism

jackbifrost's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death, Excrement, Grief, Incest, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Child death

Moderate: Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Bullying, Vomit, Gore, Abortion, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder

arwenaardbeienstruik's review against another edition

dark emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Eating disorder, Death, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Grief, and Incest

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Body horror

Minor: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Abortion