Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

66 reviews

thesaltiestlibrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, and Suicide

sunbathingturtle's review

challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I finished this book moments ago and am thankful for its existence. 

Within the confines of a hayloft, Miriam Toews creates a deep ecosystem of life, social webs, shared history, thought, and—most importantly—characters that feel so very real.

I’m in awe of the format and storytelling of this book. Masterful craft.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Domestic abuse, Incest, Grief, Child abuse, Alcohol, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

softboiledegg's review

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I've been interested in reading this book for awhile as someone that grew up as a Mennonite girl. I was so disappointed that the narrator was a man and while the book provides a lot of commentary on patriarchy and religion it was disappointing it had to be framed through *sigh* a man

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, and Suicide

saara_ilona_muu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Incest

chromiumboron's review

dark emotional sad 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? No

3.5

Ent moot but with Mennonite women.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Child abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Incest, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide and Gun violence

Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy

amy_park's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

3.5

Strong and moving! Not a very long book, but it holds a powerful kick. It took a while for me to get to grips with the many characters and how to differentiate their voices in my mind, but once I had done this it was easier to follow. The narration from a male was an interesting choice, which initially I was hesitant about it as I felt his opinions and backstory were a distraction to the main plot and at parts it did grate on me, but on the whole I think the device was nessecary and realistic for the community. Based on true events this made it an incredibly difficult to read and I would suggest to look at the content warnings before. The questions and conversations had by the women were so very important and made me reflect internally about my own femininity. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, Suicide, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Alcoholism

mworrell's review against another edition

medium-paced

This is a book of women talking, put simply. I enjoyed this as an audiobook. The author’s steady and at times dry—and wry—voice was a good complement to the dialogue, which when read in one’s head can feel cramped, but when read out loud is well paced. This might be because I read too fast ha.

Like Pachinko, there’s a lot of empty space, which I appreciate. Occasionally you get vignettes or descriptions of the surroundings, but this book is mostly dialogue, punctuated by the gestures and quirks of the people, and the written asides from the narrator. I’d like to watch the movie when I get a chance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Miscarriage

siriface's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

charlottesreadingweb's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

A crushing story of bravery, sisterhood, and solidarity in the face of horrors inflicted upon women by men they trusted. An important meditation on womanhood/girlhood, power, patriarchy, and the weaponization of religion for control. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time, and I look forward to watching the screen adaptation. Please check content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Vomit, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Incest

bseigel's review

fast-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Incest, and Self harm

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting