Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Hole by Pyun Hye-young

8 reviews

hiitssimone's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization

fragoline's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Car accident

apollinares's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.25

A very short, very gripping story of a now-paralysed car crash survivor in the care of his mother in law, whose daughter had died in the same crash. I happen to find the

"caretaker turns out to be abusive"

trope particularly uncomfortable, and I also suffer from HORRIBLE second hand embarassment, so this novel felt like a personal little torture device. The audiobook was uncomfortable to sit through, and the claustrophobic atmosphere that's present throughout the story through its use of Oghi's senses - mainly him hearing things through the door, and the tactile sensations he does feel described in the vivid way of a character with no other outlet or focus - kept that sense of dread right up until the very end.

I've seen this trope done better, I've seen it done worse. I really liked the clues that hint at the wife's goals peppered throughout the book, as well as the broader cultural context. I also enjoyed the cinematic storytelling. I could picture some of the scenes as specific film shots - this would make great suspense film. Kind of reminded me of Bong Joon-ho's Parasite.

Alternating between Oghi's post-accident existence, primarily characterised by loneliness and neglect, and flashbacks to his marriage, the way the layers of the plot peel back slowly to reveal what was going on, really sat with me. It's not overly hand-hold-y, and I'm surprised at how uncomfortable it made me. Not even scared or upset, just so, so uneasy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death, Confinement, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, Grief, Gaslighting, Excrement, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity

zoparham's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Medical trauma

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Body horror, and Blood

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Pregnancy

parasolcrafter's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Ableism, Car accident, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Medical content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol and Body shaming

this is gonna be a book i remember for a long time. fucked me up

al07734's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.75

Even though he's the protagonist, he's not a great person. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Misogyny

mbaileym99's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts

brgntteva's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

 Eerily dark, some twists in the unreliable narrator, quite compelling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Body shaming, Car accident, Death, and Domestic abuse