Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

5 reviews

rebeccafarren's review against another edition

reflective 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Ableism, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Animal cruelty

thenonmouse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Transphobia

fancyfroggie's review against another edition

It's ok but it's very obvious that it was written by a white man and there's a lot of filler. just watch the musical, it's way better

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Content Warnings

Minor: Transphobia

gayghostprince's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic friendship, War, Xenophobia, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Colonisation, Dementia, Drug use, Alcohol, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia

I never finished this book when I was younger but I was immediately struck by how vile all the adults in this book are upon rereading it. there are no assault scenes, but people do mention r*pe. the descriptions and implications about specific groups in this people are racist and stereotypical, but not often aggressively malicious. a LOT of the treatment of children in this book is upsetting. content warning for family baggage and child neglect. in addition, late in the book a child is pretty relentlessly bullied by his peers. I added a minor homophobia warning because the way people describe the two obviously gay characters is often homophobic. just coincidentally describing them as simpering or whatever. the equivalent of calling a gay man a fairy, you know? the sex scenes in this book are not detailed or graphic but they are also not well written. take that as you will.

oliviamnsnll's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I used to really like this book, and have enjoyed the musical based on it a number of times. Unfortunately during our last read though, my wife and I realised that Maguire hates women. There is not a single woman in this story who is described in remotely sympathetic terms, and the second you get to the area of "Oz" where the African inspired peoples live, it's just full of racism. I recognise that talking animals are a thing in this world, but maybe he didn't have to make the Princess of one of the Tribes in the Vinkus a literal fat elephant. 

I used to like Elphaba, Glinda, Nessarose, and even Morrible, but now I can't help but wonder if this book didn't become "popular" in part due to the unique kind of misogyny prevalent among cis gay men.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Stalking, Toxic relationship, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

Minor: Kidnapping, Transphobia, and Sexual assault