Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy

80 reviews

kristenmneal's review

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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moumoos's review against another edition

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

4.25

"Not bad for a man" is one of my favorite reviews on here. Nat Cassidy asks us and himself if he has any right to write this book, as a cis man and its valid enough to me that he isnt 100% sure because neither am I. More than anything I appreciate the effort that went into trying to get it right, acknowledging his privilege and the struggles the women in his life face and the unlearning he seems so dedicated to. 

Overall the story was unique to me, it was tense, decently paced and it was bloody and it didn't make me feel absolutely disgusted as a woman as many male authors who write on women's issues do. I much more enjoyed his writing than that of Kings who he seems to be partially inspired by and thats a big bonus to me. 

My review teeters between a 4 and a full 5 stars but I liked it nonetheless. 

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sarahashleigh5's review

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

4.0

Not bad for a man. 

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perfectcupoftea's review against another edition

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

4.5


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ashnbone's review

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dark tense 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

5.0


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stacemake's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense 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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stacym's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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gerrakay's review against another edition

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I cannot stand to listen to this any longer. I have not enjoyed this book. The brief glimpses of what could become an interesting plot are completely eclipsed by how unbearable the main character—and the voice with which she is written—is. Mary's narration could be reduced to be, hell, at least a third less dense and it could approach being bearable, but then I'd still have to slog through the Feminism 101 postulations on womanhood. I appreciate the effort in fore-fronting women's issues but I'd appreciate adequate editing more.

Those glimpses of plot we do get imply a very dull one. I read other reviews, including spoilers, and I was correct in assuming I guessed the story line from the start (which frankly I think was intentional since it is so overt, but that would suggest that the journey is the point, and the journey drags because it's so fucking long and the main character sucks so bad that it's just an exercise in misery).

Hate to be a hater but I hate it.

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luvbg1031's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Nancy got thr short end of the stick! Phucked up!

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himpersonal's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Mary, you are my hero! I declare this so on behalf of all middle-aged, perimenopausal women living under a careless patriarchy. Nat Cassidy, your momma raised you right! Aside from your author's note, where your devotion to your mom was evident, I can only conclude she taught you well based on how you wrote Mary's transformation.

If I could, I would teach this book as part of a college-level women's studies or feminism class. There is so much symbolism all over the book, including the obvious, like the mirrors, the furies, the ants, the hot flashes, her Loved Ones, etc. I gave Mary and Nat an imaginary chest-bump every time she seethed against being called crazy. And I enjoyed rooting for and watching Mary transform from a nobody (not even she gave herself any consideration) to someone who is on the cusp of extraordinary. Her rage is what drives her, and she didn't even know she had any until she had to use it. I have so much optimism for Mary's future.

The afterword was worth sticking around for. I can't believe Cassidy started this book at age 13. Brilliant. Thank you for speaking on behalf of every woman who has ever been medically gaslit and/or subjected to male doctors who were dismissive of our pain. Thank you for celebrating all the invisible and overlooked women who were put out to pasture. Thank you for being a wonderful ally against the ageism women face, should we be lucky enough to live long enough to have to deal with it.

This was my first Cassidy book. I really look forward to getting to know more of this writer's works.

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