Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

104 reviews

sheyri's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

3.0

LGBTQ rep:

lesbian, asexual

It just didn't draw me in, I was mostly bored and at the end, even though it was rather fast paced, I just wanted it to be over already. It's a good idea and I can definitely see why people would enjoy it, it just wasn't for me.
Huge bonus point for an asexual character! We don't have enough of those just casually appearing in books. Without them I probably would've rated the book 2-2.5 stars.

Something not the fault of the author: the production quality of my paperback wasn't good, the spine was so stiff it didn't want to stay open, even after I broke the spine (sorry, book). That made it annoying to read, which played a part in my enjoyment.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Rape

isaaah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Blood, Body horror, Sexism, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Grief, and Slavery

Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Trafficking, Vomit, Acephobia/Arophobia, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual content

cassiecollins's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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

3.5

Man, I really wish the whole concept of book-eating was better incorporated. As it is, there are a few moments where it's used in interesting ways—like Devon eating maps and train schedules—but overall it feels like you could replace it with any other alien physiology and the narrative wouldn't be affected at all. The story itself was pretty good, though toward the end the flashbacks just became redundant and were in the way of the present story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Rape and Gun violence

Minor: Pregnancy

imds's review against another edition

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Acephobia/Arophobia, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Xenophobia, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, Body horror, Grief, Body shaming, Confinement, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, and Trafficking

bravaislattices's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

3.75

Struggled to connect with any of the characters because none are “good” but it is also a not good world, but I like the idea that not all love is good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexism

sav_22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It’s so hard to sum up my feelings on this book, but man did I love it. If I can compare it to anything, I’d say listening to the song Labour by Paris Paloma would be the closest thing I can think of. That song IS Devon. 
The way Dean writes about motherhood, trauma, and dilemma fascinates me. The concept alone is unlike anything I’ve gotten the chance to read, and I really love how devastatingly bittersweet and complex it is. I’d say that a lot of elements of the world of the book eaters resembles Handmaid’s tale, ifykyk.

This isn’t a book that circles around the sapphic relationship, which some may have critiqued for being a bit of a minor subplot. It is hardly a focus, but I kind of enjoy the way Devon’s sexuality is explored in such a simple and gentle way, contrasting the violence in which her femininity and motherhood is explored. The dynamic between Dev and Cai is tragic and beautiful and horrifying; it really is a story that drives home the absolute carnage that is motherhood. This portrays womanhood by extension as what it can feel like: messy, violent, tragic, and ruthless. Dev loses so much of herself, and her identity was stripped from her so constantly, yet she rises like a merciless phoenix. She is one of the most morally complex characters I’ve read about, and I adored her deeply. <spoiler/> If you want to read a book that is the epitome of female rage, i feel like this is the one for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Sexual violence, Death, Child abuse, Body horror, Violence, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Mental illness, Grief, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Suicidal thoughts

grahk1107's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring medium-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

2.5

Points for originality but eye-roll romance and

resolutions 

. Reminded me of house in the Cerulean Sea. Make-belive and moralistic but more complex. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, and Misogyny

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

I’ll admit that I just don’t like dark gothic stories. If you do, maybe give this interesting spin on a vampire story a try. The book eaters and mind eaters concept kept me intrigued enough, and the out of order storytelling was interesting. Check content warnings before diving in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, Death, Murder, Ableism, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Aphobia

yaelaed's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Grief

Minor: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Rape, and Sexual assault

risaleel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Confinement, Death, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse