Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Vox by Christina Dalcher

11 reviews

mels_reading_log's review against another edition

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

5.0

I love when a book makes me think and makes me feel something. That’s what this book is, it shows you the short path between women’s rights being slowly taken away until we are eventually silenced. I know it’s a dystopian book and it might be seen as silly to take it that seriously but it hits pretty close to home if you are paying attention to your surroundings.
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miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition

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

3.0

This was very much just a handmaids tale retelling
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jen1804's review against another edition

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

1.5

I was disappointed with this book. The author sets up such an interesting concept for a story which could be action packed and tense but instead follows the most boring narrative ever. The characters themselves are not likeable and for a book about female oppression it is frustrating to see that the one who saves the day is not our female main character but instead the two men in her life. Fundamentally Jean actually does nothing of value during this story and may as well have not been part of it.
Add to this the odd writing style flicking between past and present with no help from the formatting, plus the medical jargon, and you find the book being inherently confusing for no good reason.
Satisfactory ending? No.
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gemma7's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

4 Stars is probably a bit of a stretch but it is what it is.

I was really enjoying the book but the ending was not IT!

Why is everything told and not shown?
Stevens rescue, Del's staged arrest, Poe working undercover, more details on the resistance
These things were important to the story yet we never know how they happen.
Some things were too convenient to be true 
all the right people just happened to be part of the resistance, Lin and Jackie kept trapped in the same building Jean was working in


 
Also, Olivia was at Patrick's funeral? Surely she couldn't have survived what happened to her?? Unless it was her one handed ghost.
 

Still quite impressive for a debut novel.
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abbypeters's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

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cyrusk12's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A must read. Christina Dalcher shows the importance of always standing up and speaking out. How quickly things can take a turn for the worse and the power of women. Such a well written and page turning novel. 
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sadiaa's review against another edition

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

Pros
Interesting oremise - reminiscent of the handmaids tale
Loved the short chapters
Was fast paced, read it in a day

Cons
Second half of the book was lacking, not sure I understood the ending
so Patrick saves the day, but all we know is that he went into the building and ran out as the building was being locked down and was shot by a rooftop sniper but I'm confused on what Patrick actually did.
 
Also I know this is based on jeans story, but I would've liked to have known more about Patrick, his perspective
working for the administration whilst also being a part of the resistance, trying to bring them down
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nila's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

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harpy_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a book that I couldn't put down, I devoured it in under 24 hours! I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian novels that make you really think about what the future may possibly look like if the government gains enough power. I'll likely read it again in the future!
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stormwise's review against another edition

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tense

2.0

I was very excited for this book - I'm obsessed with language and linguistics - but the execution...left much to be desired. 

My biggest gripe with this book was the pacing. With 326 pages split into 80 chapters, the narrative felt very choppy - this was occasionally effective when moving between the present and flashbacks, but overall it just made it harder to follow the story, especially as the plot picked up. Speaking of the plot, the ending was an absolute mess. The story fizzled out in a confusing collection of scenes that we are mostly told about rather than shown, in which
a character is dramatically killed off - conveniently fixing a romance plot point.


I have certain expectations of contemporary social dystopian novels, especially those aimed at adults. One of those expectations is a certain degree of Intersectionality. Dalcher includes gay and lesbian (side) characters and examines what happens to them under the Pure regime, but fails to include trans people - which I would be more forgiving of if she hadn't chosen to have her protagonist use the acronym 'LGBTQIA'. If you're just going to focus on the L and G, why even mention the rest? 
 I was annoyed further by the fact that Dalcher is clearly aware of the issue of intersectionality - halfway through the book,
the protagonist meets a black woman who predicts that she and her mixed race marriage will be treated more harshly by the Pure regime in the future.
"Oh, good," I thought, "we'll see more about how other social groups are treated." It is then never mentioned ever again. 
 I'm not saying that I wanted to see black or trans people (or any other marginalised group) being treated badly in fiction, but it felt disingenuous that a plot device rooted so deeply in Conservative American values was for all intents and purposes merely sexist and homophobic, and not racist and transphobic. 
(I also found the way that Jackie, a lesbian feminist protestor, was presented...a bit icky. "Feminism is good, but if you're too shouty and don't dress nicely then don't be surprised when you're branded as hysterical!" And don't get me started on the love confession flashback. Classic lesbians, amirite?)


Overall this book felt more like an exploration of the science and philosophy of the concept than an actual novel. The first few chapters of world building were very engaging but once the plot kicked it, it all fell apart. 
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