Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

187 reviews

arcadering's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

one of the most thought provoking books i’ve read in a really long time. very difficult read but worth it if you can handle it. asks a lot of questions about beauty, conformity, self loathing, generational trauma and systemic oppression and how they all shape our lives. having this as your first novel is insane

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

sleepylit's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexual assault

estanis's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Classism

jaiari12's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

narbine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Slavery, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

booksjessreads's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

I feel like any words I could write about any Toni Morrison book could never do her work justice. 

This book was not what I was fully expecting, and I think this made me appreciate it more. Told from multiple points of view and through a seasonal perspective of the events Pecola ensures, it details the complexity of the ways in which beauty, culture, poverty, colourism and sexism intertwine. 

I think the things that have completely astounded me about this novel is its purpose and its language. What I love about this, is that Morrison tells the story in a structured way, allowing us to understand the psychological motivations and histories of the characters. She shows us that the characters should not be excused for their behaviour, but simply showing us what made the characters the way that they are. In her forward and afterword, Morrison mentions how she wanted to fragment the chapters into different perspectives, seasons etc. and allow the reader to piece the story together. Whilst she looks in retrospect and felt this didn't work for the novel, I think it works well and made the novel effective. 

This novel is short but it is packed with so much heavy content. It is beautifully written - each sentence flows into one another. I don't think I have read lyrical writing quite like this. There is a lot that is packed into its 212 pages, but I appreciated every page and the story and messages told through her work. I am highly anticipated her other novels and am eager to get into them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Excrement, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

iheartapolloxxi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Incest, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

joyfulfoodie's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

Let me start with this; this is a most elegantly written novel. The style is superb and absorbing. The perspectives make it a very important read. 
But while some sections you can float in the prose and just enjoy how fabulous a storyteller Morrison is, the overall subject matter has some deeply disturbing threads. Yes, you know this already if you’ve read even one summary of the book. It doesn’t make it easier to read. It is heartbreaking and disgusting and so so overwhelming that you can’t help but read with a grimace. 
I know this book has changed me and I will be thinking about it for a long time. I do recommend reading this between fluffier pieces to keep balance. 

The banned elephant in the room… I understand why this book gets put up for bans. It has some really dark stuff. But while I don’t know what age I would recommend this to my future hypothetical offspring (certainly after they’ve learned about sex in a more loving and positive context) and I would rather they not have to read this with someone unqualified to guide them through it (which happens in schools sometimes- either due to peers or professionals…). All that said, I cannot imagine denying this voice. Context matters. Don’t ban books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Classism

sienna_54's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

cried in public TWICE reading this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

flibbertigibbetmaria's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Animal death