Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly

5 reviews

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

This book is queer to its core and evokes such a varied range of emotions.

The relationships whether platonic, romantic or familial are complicated and endearing, even though we essentially follow them through the most mundane of activities.

I don’t usually enjoy a book that lacks a plot but the characters are so brilliant, and there’s so much humour whilst also touching on really important subjects it really doesn’t matter. A triumph for representation and a joy to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infertility, Racism, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Classism

chris_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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: Mental illness and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Racism and Lesbophobia

sadhbh2525's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Infidelity, Racism, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, War, and Classism

aliciavalenski's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

jayisreading's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.5

Greta & Valdin is a novel that felt like a warm embrace from various members of the Vladislavljevic family, a Russian–Maori family, particularly from the two queer siblings who narrate the story, Greta and Valdin. They’re a messy and imperfect bunch, especially Greta and Valdin (really living up to be disaster queers in their own ways, ahaha), but they all carry so much love. I really appreciated how Reilly navigated race and class dynamics in this novel through her characters, making playful jabs at these issues in New Zealand society.

There isn’t much of a plot, which may frustrate some, as most of this book focuses on the characters and their relationships with one another, and, really, the joys and frustrations of being human. There was something so genuine about these characters, so much that I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. (I will also say the humor is reminiscent of television shows such as Fleabag and Chewing Gum, so if you’re not a fan of this sort of humor, perhaps avoid this novel.)

I did feel the ending was a little hastily put together, but overall, I greatly enjoyed the ride that was this book. Reilly wrote some of the most sincere and endearing characters I’ve read in some time. On an unrelated note, it was also quite fun to learn more about New Zealand society and culture, including slang.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Classism