Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Oroonoko by Aphra Behn

26 reviews

charlieiniso's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, and Racism

bvrealis's review against another edition

informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

Oroonoko altissima rappresentazione letteraria della figura dell’himbo che afferra un’anguilla elettrica a mani nude senza motivo solo per dimostrare di poterlo fare e poi viene ricoverato d’urgenza quasi muore ma lui è felice di aver toccato l’anguilla — questa la mia importantissima analisi accademica del sottotesto 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Death, Deportation, Kidnapping, Sexism, Pregnancy, Violence, Misogyny, Blood, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Torture, and Trafficking

madelinebooks1's review

challenging dark fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Hate crime, Racism, and Rape

ed_moore's review

challenging dark reflective slow-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? No

2.5

This book was brutal. I think that may be the best word to describe it. Oroonoko was written in 1688 by the English writer Aphra Behn. Written in an age where British colonisation was prominent and the slave trade was ongoing, Behn writes condemning the institution of slavery, whereas not in the means that immediately you’d assume. She does not criticise the evil of the institution, instead his becoming enslaved lessens the prince Oroonoko’s nobility. This is where I note some substantial flaws in the book, firstly it’s context meaning the institution of slavery is not criticised and in some cases even justified, and secondly in regards to the protagonist of the story. Oroonoko is of nobility and depicted to have a much more comfortable experience than the ordinary slave throughout the majority of the story. Behn avoids the massive and unavoidable issues in her writing only putting emphasis on the nobility of one individual. I would also add this book is full of trigger warnings, notably the slave trade, inappropriate sexual relations and extreme violence.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Racism, Violence, and Trafficking

vanillaphantoms's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

2.0

This is a book to read if you want to study 17th century attitudes on colonialism and slavery. Interesting for sure, but not entertaining. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault

izzyknight's review

challenging sad medium-paced

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

1.5

While I recognise its position in literature as one of the first novels and that it does reflect 17th century values so it’s to be expected to have very different attitudes to the modern day, I didn’t enjoy this book  and found the very overt racism and sexism uncomfortable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

coolfijiwater's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

bubblyfemme's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Physical abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Gore, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

mariekeroos's review

dark informative sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

I find it interesting to read perspectives like these from the time itself. Needless to say tho, it is filled with colonialism, supremacy ideas and such. Behn offers a teeny tiny but of criticism to the horrors. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Racism, and Slavery

abrose2001's review

challenging dark sad fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

 There could've been a worse portrayal of the ethnicities, and is is from 1688.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Death, and Violence

Minor: Rape