Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones

158 reviews

julie123's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.75

I picked this book for my discussion group and I'm excited to see what they have to say about it. It's unlike much of what we've read: it features multiple perspectives, the characters are complicated in an obvious way, and there's no easy resolution. Then again, it is also similar to what we've read in that it discusses difficult themes such as abuse, intergenerational trauma, and grief. 

This book is a small slice of life after Adan kills a wealthy white man and his own daughter (though he won't admit to the latter). Lala, his wife and main character, must reckon with this while also understanding that she can no longer lay low or suffer his abuse. Her story is framed by that of the one-armed sister, who went into a tunnel when she wasn't supposed to and came out with one arm. Lala wonders why this tale is cautionary: the one-armed sister can still cook and clean, though it might be more difficult. Her grandmother Wilma retorts, how is she going to sweep her house? Well, this story explains how.

Lala went into her own tunnel and married Adan. Though he does physically harm her, but not to the extent of her losing her arm, she is totally restrained. He steals her money, he silences her, he traumatizes her. She is no longer, metaphorically speaking, a complete woman. Something about her has been lost along the way, and it's all thanks to Adan. And, of course, it's Adan who goes into the tunnels and he, until the end, remains unharmed.

We are also privy to their history: how Lala and Adan grew up, how Adan doesn't know that Lala and his best friend Tone know each other from childhood, how Lala's mother died. The stories weave together to create a scenic yet terrifying backdrop of how they came to be.

I so wished for Adan to be punished. I wanted the police officer to solve the case. I wanted Mira to have her justice. But books like these don't give us a neat ending. Instead, they give us a new beginning.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Misogyny, and Child death

cynthiareads's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Well-written but not enjoyable.  Horrible things happen to everyone.  Bleak.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape and Child death

meenalgarg's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

mangopanels's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

littlepepperguy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

3.75

Definitely sad, for sure be ready for something heavy and real. A really intricately weaved story of  interconnecting people with seemingly little in common other than a man making a victim of them (specifically one man but also men in general). Deals with the struggles of patriarchy and the fact that no one thrives within the suffocating environment of white supremacist western colonial patriarchy, not even the men, especially not the men of color in 1970's Barbados within the novel. Although it is set in the past and a window to how that specific time and place and those specific women were affected, it is a great allegory for how women are deeply affected by gender roles and abuse. Very intersectional and again super depressing. I'm white and was socialized as a woman and I think it is of utmost importance to read novels that show the difference in treatment between white woman and women of color. Intersectionality bb.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, Medical trauma, Grief, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Death, Sexism, Child death, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Infertility

honkinggoose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Grief

Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, and Violence

monstar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use

deen734's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Grief, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

bookishtwally's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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

2.75

The first chapter draws you in with the descriptive writing. But afterwards is a steep hill of sadness 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, and Domestic abuse