Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Hotel Iris by Yōko Ogawa

5 reviews

lidia7's review

challenging dark fast-paced

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

uncomfortable, intriguing, very murky. i loved the writing. would not recommend for anyone who's experienced sexual violence in any form or unbalanced/abusive relationships.

major spoilers

besides the 50 years age gap and the fact that Mari is *so* young (17) which clearly leads to a power imbalance, there's no discussion before (or after - that we know of) the first BDSM encounter and so is Mari consenting? can she even consent? is the fact she comes back for more willingly an indicator of consent or of his grooming? she feels sad for him and her life is more interesting with him in it, she feels special but there are no boundaries set, no safety precautions, no way out. the encounters only confirm her self-hatred which to her feels...  pleasurable? freeing? (another person to dominate her that isn't her mother might feel like a breakaway even if it's trading bad situations). 
i think she couldn't have consented, no matter how grown-up she feels or thinks she is and that she was exploited by a pathetic man who sees his last chance at a connection. the sad thing is that Mari needed a friend, a grand/father figure and not whatever the translator was trying to be. (even if she wanted him to dominate her sexually or otherwise, his actions are inexcusable and as an adult he should have known better).

the tongue and mouth are very prominent in their relationship so i guess that's one possible reason the nephew (who doesn't have a tongue) is juxtaposed to them as well as the fact that the translator speaks for/over him. there's probably a lot of commentary on translation that i'm not big-brained enough to get but still the book never felt too out of my depth - or at least it didn't feel like i was missing important bits, i wasn't confused. i was hoping Mari's and the nephew's relationship would be explored more and i'm not sure if the story he shares (about his aunt's death) is true or to what extent and if he himself believes the story. 

the ending surprised me but didn't feel out of place. it's neither satisfying or unsatisfying but it's believable enough as well as appropriate. the fact that Marie's story hasn't been found (and that she asks for it) but photographs degrading Mari are, felt like a knife in my gut. can Mari get closure? how does her life continue? i imagine it goes on as it always has which is very bleak. i do hope she finds a way out. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Torture and Body shaming

Minor: Murder, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent, Stalking, and Ableism

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

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

traceymc's review

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

I was surprised to see this book shelved as erotica here. And even more so after reading it. This story is many things, dark, disturbing, nauseating; erotic is not one of them. And I don't think the author's intention was to titilate. Yes, there is sexual content but this is a story of grooming, manipulation, gaslighting and violence. The plot is not far removed from that of an episode of Criminal Minds. 
It's thought provoking, unsettling and definitely not for everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

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