Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Hotel Iris by Yōko Ogawa

11 reviews

dariarp's review

dark sad 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Slavery

rieriereads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad fast-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? Yes

3.5

𝘐𝘧 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘐𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘐 𝘢𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭. 𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺

𝙷𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚕 𝙸𝚛𝚒𝚜 by Yoko Ogawa (translated by Stephen Synder) is an eerie, haunting, and disturbing novel. The story starts one night when Mari, a 17-year-old girl, hears a man's loud voice in the hotel her family owns. Captivated by the man's voice, pristine suit, and calm nature. Together, Mari and the old man, whom she calls Translator, slowly start an odd relationship full of pleasure and pain.

To start, this book is not for everybody. Although beautifully written, it is full of heavy themes such as BDSM, pedophilia, loneliness, and so much more. The plot gives off a whirlwind of emotions that makes you either want to read more or stop and DNF it. I was in the middle of both. I'm not easily disturbed by trigger warnings, but this did. Overall though I still wanted to finish it, and it was a ride I probably wouldn't go again. 

Honestly, writing a review for Hotel Iris is difficult. Unlike the two other books I've read of Yoko Ogawa, this sticks out like a sore thumb. I significantly like those two more than this. Hotel Iris left me with a queasy feeling after finishing it. It made me wonder, reflect, and question. It is disgusting, and yet I see the odd beauty in it. Especially from the writing; no matter how heavy the story is, I know I would never be disappointed by Ogawa's writing. I highlighted so many lines and have so many thoughts on this book. I do believe though that because Yoko Ogawa is a woman, it makes me say and question less than more (if you get what I mean).

Overall, it was an interesting and thought-provoking book. I would not recommend this because although I liked it, again, this is a book someone should thoroughly check the trigger warnings There is also a thin line between liking and hating it. To those interested in reading this, please tag me, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. It's a good book to discuss between friends.

📚 | 45
⭐ | 3.5

•••

My Rating System

5 🌟 - Life changing, a new favorite read
4 ⭐ - I loved it
3 ⭐ - I liked it 
2 ⭐ - It was okay
1 ⭐ - I hated it but decided to  not dnf

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Death of parent

clammyheart's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

angela_iseli's review

dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence

excritos's review

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse

emmalouisereads's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-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

Yoko Ogawa has a captivating writing style, which makes her books easy to devour. 

The subject matter of this book is not an enjoyable one, and I felt quite sick throughout. Which is probably the aim considering the topic at hand.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, and Death

denigu's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Bullying

sabotheking's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

This one was a wild ride. A dark, twisted, uncomfortable, and confusing ride but one I gladly would do again. For such a small book there is so much in it. Every sentence layered with so many undescribable emotions, meanings or intentions. In the end there are no final conclusions, only the remains of glass shattered. Read up on the TW please. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Cursing

Minor: Child death

sourpeach's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Confinement

magis1105's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse