Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Odyssey by Lara Williams

6 reviews

flashandoutbreak's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Confinement, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

grunbean's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

It’s an interesting read for sure. I had no trouble engaging with it, and I found the darkness and humour I was expecting in parts. For me, it feels like it’s missing something to really pull it together. The ending was disappointing. Though it is a fun and eerie read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Vomit, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gore, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

ecn's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

3.25

I have absolutely no idea what to say about this book other than it feels like a fever dream??? I cannot tell you a single thing that happened or what it meant. 

I can’t say it was as hard of a  “merciless takedown of late capitalism and our anxious, ill-fated quests for something to believe in” as the synopsis made it seem it would be but it definitely speaks to late capitalism. So much of the book felt like a blurred vision of our capitalist while dissociating through life. However, I do not know what to feel about the book. I wanted so much more out of it than I got. I wanted to know more about everyone and wanted a more grounded story. I genuinely cannot tell what happened this story and if anything was real or a grotesque and exaggerated imagination of the MC.

It’s not for everyone but definitely for you if you want something loosely glossy and reads like a fever dream you have while working at your shit job. 

All I can say for sure is I don’t know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Addiction, Grief, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility

litstyleguide's review

3.0

This was truly the most bizarre thing I’ve ever read, and I think it’s really ambiguous. The inside cover says this is a “merciless takedown of late capitalism and our anxious, ill-fated quests for something to believe in.” I can see that, but I also had this feeling of none of it actually happening, and it just showing what this V troubled woman thought was happening. I don’t know.

A lot of this read as ICK to me, and for some reason I kept thinking of A Requiem for a Dream (yikes). It just gave me the same feeling of unease. I wouldn’t say I liked this book, but I was definitely invested, and I keep thinking about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Medical content, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Vomit and Infertility

lizzie_r's review

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Body horror, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content and Religious bigotry

Minor: Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

purplemuskogee's review

dark funny fast-paced

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

4.0

What a completely bizarre little novel! I found it better than 'Supper Club', less repetitive and predictible. We follow Ingrid, who works on the WA, a cruise ship, and has just been selected to participate in its bizarre mentoring programme, where she learns from Keith, obsessed by wabi sabi and who subjects her and other workers to strange (and sadistic) rituals. Ingrid navigates her friendships, her time on and off the ship, thinks about her husband, drinks. It is a very disturbing and strange novel and I loved it, it reminded me of several other novels I liked recently - notably 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation' and 'Convenience Store Woman'. 

Free ARC sent by Netgalley.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Vomit