Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

76 reviews

saskiahill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Richly written, the author's writing style really brings the scenes to life. There's lots of interesting themes explored including parenthood, womanhood, being single, birth, growing up and more, which are tackled well. The book doesn't follow a really clear plot with obvious start, middle and end, but it is told in a linear way and feels satisfying nonetheless. The characters are neither lovable or bad, they are very real and relatable. At times the pace dipped, or I didn't particularly relate to a section - but I think that's more to do with me being a 'mood reader' than about the book itself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Cancer, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Infertility

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Rape, Incest, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Terminal illness

pandorasirens's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Grief, and Misogyny

Moderate: Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Rape, Death, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Cancer

Minor: Body shaming, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Pedophilia

avie_j's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, and Domestic abuse

nozycozy's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

So human. So Beautiful. Kawakami’s riveting prose makes you feel like you’re a part of Natsumes life. Her thoughts and interactions with others were at times sad but these are the realities many women face. I learned so much and connected with many of the women in her life. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Trafficking, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault

mia_a's review

emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

I have only recently found out that this book is actually two stories in one. First one about Natsuko's family- her working-class sister who researches breast augmentation thinking it would aid in her job, and her teenage daughter who refuses to speak to her mom for more than half a year, with Natsuko being there in the background, silently judging and remembering their harsh childhood. Second part is years later, when Natsuko is contemplating having a child, via sperm donor. Through this time, she has very different opinions on this- from her own sister saying that it is not a good idea, old friend saying how she doesn't have financial security to raise a child, to her newest friend who supports her in this decision. Even though it drags a little bit, it rounds up nicely at the end.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness

vellumveela's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

3.5

The characters fell a bit flat for me, despite the narrative being entirely driven by dialogue, relationship dynamics, and contemplation. In more than a few occasions, characters felt very trope-y. That said, Kawakami captured and maintains a keen sense of bittersweet melancholy all throughout the novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Body shaming, and Sexism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Transphobia

coolguyclyde's review

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!!! EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

aa_chierkoet's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

I dont give 5 stars to a lot of books. besides, im usually a plot focused book kinda gal. BUT WOW. I loved it. I could see myself in A LOT of things that were said in the book, just better described than I ever could. For example, even tho im not a doner kid, Aizawa was a relatable character. Like in the fight with his mom. I didn't expect to like this book so much, but I cried at least 2 times. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual assault

rachelsuzuko's review

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide

caseylovett's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Sexual assault