Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

4 reviews

tessbookcorner's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Animal death

simplyjennifer's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Medical content, Self harm, Murder, Stalking, Terminal illness, Animal death, Confinement, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual content

starsnstitchin's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Stalking, and Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual content

bubothereader's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I go back and forth with how I feel about this book. It was one of those that I couldn't write an articulate review for instantly after reading it. I had to take my time. 

The plot for this was immensely interesting. The atmosphere was EVERYTHING I needed in this cold December. It drew me in pretty quickly and I enjoyed the character interactions, but then it got boring. 

I do take some issue, overall. 

1. I don't like that Niffenegger seems very drawn to older man with a MUCH younger woman trope (though she did have a relationship between a much older woman and a younger man). One book, fine, I'll deal, but it's in both of the novels I've read by her. 
2. I appreciate the representation of OCD, but it felt very stereotypical. The constant cleaning, the can't leave their house, the paranoia, the counting—yes, that's clinical OCD and isn't inaccurate, but it felt very shaming. As if, this character is only worthwhile when he's on medication and we must literally FORCE him to take meds so he's tolerable. This is inhumane—
   he did realize he was on meds and then consented, but the character who forced him didn't realize that and literally plucked out her eyebrows to get meds, which is Trichotillomania, NOT OCD.
   .
3. The character choices are intense in ways that I just don't agree with. It's like some of them forgot they have free will, which I understand comes with trauma, but I just feel a certain character would have thought of OTHER THINGS first before doing what occurred. It just felt like an engine for the longer plot point and I wasn't okay with it.

However! I did really enjoy reading this book. It pulled me in and I liked figuring out the mystery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship