Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

36 reviews

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

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

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

gmjohnson's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Astonishing read, I felt like I really connected with the characters and sympathised with them all. Toews has compassionately written a complex cast of characters in which each of them have their own unique views on the situation they’re in. I laughed and cried throughout the whole book, but ultimately felt hope for the women as their story grew. Definitely my all time favourite book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Deadnaming, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Death, Murder, and Death of parent

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

hannahwinston's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I loved the book. Fast read, engaging, teared up a few times. Tommy biggest issue is the narrator is not only unreliable, it’s a man. I understand why it has to be a man, I’m just still annoyed by it.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide

bbooklight's review

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

toews crafts a story as smooth as your own train of thought, and chronicles the fierce and gentle feminine energy that i resonate with so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

lk3ssaf's review

3.25

The book was short and easy to read. It was sad, and depressing at times, but the author chose a hopeful ending.

We never learn what happens to the women, or how the men at the cult react, and that might be for the best.

I didn't learn that the story was based on real crimes that took place against Mennonite women until after I had read the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Death of parent

cait's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Dementia, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism

isabellalinares's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

3.5

Chilling and very upsetting this is actually based on a true event. 

Written thoughtfully & heartbreakingly 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide attempt