Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Maurice by E.M. Forster

12 reviews

themoostconfused's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

yolanda_h's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Toxic relationship

affectionatelyrs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Such a beautiful, tragic story. Makes me ache for my queer family members in spirit who still have to live the way Maurice and Clive did in the 1900s. Alec is my beloved.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Outing and Misogyny

Minor: Alcohol, Child abuse, and Sexual content

issyd23's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

‘I’ve not been straight with you’ ‘indeed Mr Hall’ Happy pride! 4🏏

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Classism, Outing, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

writtenbypoets's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Classism, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual assault

rubymacbeth's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Classism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

rieviolet's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

I've been meaning to read this book for so long and, for one reason or another, I kept postponing it but what a mistake, I really really loved it! It was not an easy read emotionally, the characters go through a lot and are not always likeable but it is a very engaging narrative and it makes you feel deeply. Also, the final payoff is so worth the very bumpy road to get there, bless you E.M. Forster.
Maurice's final speech to Clive was just *chief's kiss*, so so satisfying, I was in the background cheering him on and screaming "You tell him, you tell him!".

The prose was so rich and impactful, I've just finished reading it and I can't wait
to immerse myself in it again in the future. 

His journey was nearly over. He was bound for his new home. He had brought out the man in Alec, and now it was Alec’s turn to bring out the hero in him. He knew what the call was, and what his answer must be. They must live outside class, without relations or money; they must work and stick to each other till death. But England belonged to them. That, besides companionship, was their reward. Her air and sky were theirs, not the timorous millions' who own stuffy little boxes, but never their own souls.

 

The novel had already been a roller coaster of emotions and then came the author's terminal word and I have to say he finished me off for good, but what a lovely way to go, what a lovely way! I hope we will come to an even kinder year.

 

A happy ending was imperative. I shouldn’t have bothered to write otherwise. I was determined that in fiction anyway two men should fall in love and remain in it for the ever and ever that fiction allows, and in this sense Maurice and Alec still roam the greenwood. I dedicated it ‘To a Happier Year’ and not altogether vainly.

And in my experience though loyalty cannot be counted on it can always be hoped for and be worked towards and may flourish in the most unlikely soil.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Violence, Medical content, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: War, Bullying, Excrement, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Racism

azaleas_bouquet's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

dandelionseeds's review

reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual assault

leepc's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

A heartbreakingly accurate depiction of the inherent loneliness that comes with queer identity. Forster elegantly describes what I thought was indescribable with beautiful, yet straightforward language. Some days I burst into tears from the thought of this book. There is a happy ending, but the author’s notes are absolutely heart wrenching. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Outing

The book deals with queer identity in a time period when it was criminalized, and the author did not have an optimistic outlook on the future of LGBT rights. The main triggers come from

a toxic relationship in which two university students navigate their same-gender attraction together, ending in one of them having a mental health crisis and isolating and neglecting the other

Some readers also may be triggered by relatively tense mentions of blackmail and what could be perceived as stalking.