Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

139 reviews

elenareadz's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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? No

4.0

A group of women, with limited knowledge of the world outside, with limited education, in two days trying to break down and understand the patriarchal society that has been created around them. These women for maybe the first time can plainly speak to what they have endured, on the backdrop of their religion and desire for pacifism. 

An overrall amazing book, but at times it felt hard to follow and was disjointed based on the large group of characters and how the format of the book is written. 

Highly recommend for everyone to read, but heed the content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Gun violence

wsmythe19's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

A book that needs to be read and understood and loved. As a man, raised by women, I related to August. As a man who was put among boys, I understood August. But more importantly, in the era of bear or man, I understand why its the bear after finishing the novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

milliemarilyn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Domestic abuse

Minor: Suicide attempt and Pregnancy

nypho_maniac's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

Like a handmaid's tale 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Grief, and Pedophilia

soozielyingcat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Rape, Physical abuse, Incest, and Domestic abuse

jaz_aiken's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Miscarriage

seventhswan's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

I do so wish this book hadn't been narrated by a man - even more so when I realised it was set in the 21st century, which wasn't immediately apparent due to the setting of the Mennonite community. I sort of understand why this choice was made, but I still think it would have been completely possible to have a woman narrator or a third-person narration; however sympathetic, I didn't want to read about violence against women and decision-making by women from a man's perspective.

Apart from that, though, the actual writing of the book was masterfully done and made for a compelling read despite being, genuinely, very little more than a group of women having an important conversation in a barn. I got a great sense of the different characters and their various motivations, and wanted nothing but good things for them. I want to know what happened next - as well as what happened to the real women the book is based on.

Although the premise of the book relies on horrific sexual violence (so I've marked it as graphic), I'm grateful that it didn't rely on vivid depictions of this for shock value. The few sentences alluding to the impact of the violence on different women and girls both got the point across and demonstrated its routine nature in the community. You don't need to know exact details of what happened to the women - after all, they don't themselves - and I appreciated Toews' focus on the aftermath without resorting to flashbacks and trauma porn. 

I would recommend this book, in spite of my issues with the parts of it that focused on August. It felt like an important read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit, Death, Gun violence, and Incest

dreamreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

What a profound, sad, haunting, hopeful little book. I've seen very mixed reviews on this, with some reviewers seeming to be upset that the book is, in fact, centered on women talking, without any other plot. But to me, and to my personal tastes, there is something truly breathtaking and awe-inspiring in witnessing these women making, perhaps for the first time ever, a decision for themselves. I loved this. I'm so glad I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse

lydsomtimesreads's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.75

This is a heavy topic, while it’s a fictional story it’s based on real life events that are tragic. Book is a little slow at times but story was interesting.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

kathryn_m_booth's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Confinement, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault