Books Unfiltered: Rants, Reviews, and Reflections
This is not just another collection of reviews. It's where I get real about books-no filters, no sugar-coating. From dissecting the latest Wattpad hits to ranting about clichés, tropes, and everythin...
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⁓Oh, this ground feels so heavier Iam singing by myself Ijust wanna be happier Am I being too greedy?⁓
JUST A SLAP?
——•⁕•——
Note that this post discusses sensitive topics like abuse and violence. Please proceed with caution if these subjects are triggering for you.
Abuse. A word used in many contexts. But what does it truly mean? By definition, it is the misuse of something in a wrongful way. A single day doesn't go by without seeing a headline about abuse—be it physical, sexual, mental, emotional, drug abuse, or even power abuse.
Sadly, abuse is not just a reality; it has also seeped into our stories, normalized and, at times, even romanticized, especially in the Wattpad and broader book community.
Romanticizing abuse is where the line gets crossed. It is one thing to address abuse to shed light on its consequences and provide a voice to those who suffer.
But turning it into a plot device that is excused or justified in the name of love? That's a dangerous precedent. This is often seen in depictions of domestic violence, where abuse is framed as a "reaction" or an "expression of passion."
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 2019-2021, 29.3% of married Indian women aged 18-49 have experienced domestic or sexual violence.
Among pregnant women in the same age group, 3.1% have faced physical violence during pregnancy. Men are not exempt from abuse either, with 52.4% experiencing gender-based violence in some form, 51.5% facing spousal violence at least once in their lifetime, and 10.5% within the past year.
Most of this abuse against men is emotional. These numbers don't even account for the countless cases that go unreported.
What's even more frustrating is how genuine cases of abuse often become fodder for gender wars. Instead of focusing on justice for victims—regardless of gender—these arguments divert attention and help no one but the abuser.
When reflecting on abuse, I can't help but recall an incident from my own childhood. I was in 5th grade when a boy, just a year or two younger than me, shared a story that left me baffled.
He said, so openly, "Only once did my father slap my mother because it was her fault—she did something wrong. But after that, he never did it again. I don't think it was wrong; it was just a reaction."
Even as a 9-year-old, those words confused me. How could such behavior be dismissed as "just a reaction"? Years later, I've heard even worse stories, but that boy's words still linger in my mind.
The victim in such relationships suffers deeply. But when there are children involved, the trauma multiplies. Children in abusive households are often forced to mature far too early, living in an environment where escape feels impossible.
