Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Moja znikająca połowa by Brit Bennett

72 reviews

peachani's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Hate crime, Medical content, and Xenophobia

Minor: Bullying, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

skudiklier's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was amazing. I went into it not really knowing anything, but just having heard a lot of good things. I was so pulled in that sometimes I would stop reading (listening to the audiobook, really) and not know what I was doing or where I was. It felt like a whole different world, and I wish I could stay in it longer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Medical content, Hate crime, Grief, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Cursing

ohitsbetterthisway's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

4.5

Very heavy read, so beautiful; I’m in love with this sort of patchwork storytelling. This book has left me awestruck.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Violence

bekah445's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Violence

Minor: Murder and Stalking

words_and_coffee's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Hate crime, Violence, Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Transphobia and Murder

Minor: Drug use

ashlightgrayson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

This book is a literary exploration of the intersectionality of racism, colorism, and transgenderism. It follows the lives of two identical twins, Desiree and Stella, starting in the 1960s and stopping in the 1990s. Both twins live in the small fictional town of Mallard, Louisiana with their single mother. Mallard has a population of black and mixed race individuals that tend to have lighter skin. The twins eventually choose to leave the constraints of their small town in order to pursue a better life. Eventually, Desiree and Stella go their separate ways. Stella chooses to pass as white, marries a wealthy white man and has a daughter with him. Desiree marries an abusive black man, has a daughter with him and eventually leaves him and returns to Mallard. The story follows them and their daughters and how Stella and Desiree's decisions affect both of their lives and the lives of their family. 

There are many contrasts drawn between the lives of Stella and Desiree and their respective daughters, Kennedy and Jude. Eventually the lives of the cousins intersect, and as a result, so do those of the twins. Through Stella we see the price of passing as white in a society that rejects blackness. Meanwhile, Desiree must grapple with the rejection her dark skinned daughter, Jude, suffers in a community and society that values lighter skin. We are also introduced to a transgender character who must struggle with living in a society that isn't accepting of people like him.

The story has incredible analogies and social commentary. The message at the end is also very powerful and makes everything that happens come together. If you are a fan of literary fiction that has heavy social commentary, this is a good book for you.

I was super happy with the ending of this book. Desiree was able to find a safe and loving relationship with Early and is able to eventually leave Mallard. Jude and Reese are finally happy and able to accept themselves for who they are. They reach a level of self-fulfillment and satisfaction that is contrasted by Stella and Kennedy's lives. Stella has continued to live a lie and sacrificed her relationship with her mother and sister in order to have the privileges of being white. Her ability to even pursue a career is also limited by her close-minded and sexist husband. Kennedy does not live a fulfilling acting career as she always wished. She continues to keep in touch with Jude by the end of the book. However, she ends a long term relationship with her black boyfriend and the extent of her relationship with Jude is limited by her internalized fear of being associated with blackness. Despite all of this, it is understood that Stella and Kennedy are in part victims of a racist society that influenced their decisions. It is also clear that despite all of the hardships Desiree, Reese, and Jude underwent for being black, they found true freedom in their own self-acceptance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Sexual content, Hate crime, Sexism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism

Minor: Homophobia and Death of parent

katrinarose's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This was a heartbreaking story but also full of hope. It was slow-paced but kept me interested the whole time. I wish there was a bit less jumping around because that left me feeling a bit disconnected from the characters and feeling like I understood them. Otherwise it was a book that gave me a lot of think about and a lot to feel about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racial slurs, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Dementia, Medical content, and Sexual content

papercraftalex's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I really disliked the way the trans character was written. I also found issues with pacing and the time jumps were confusing and the ending was unsatisfying, but my overall issue is that the author really didn't handle the queer characters with care at all. It had some really good parts and is good for reflection on colorism and the idea of passing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

skyslibrary's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

sorcha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Racism

Minor: Dementia, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Racial slurs