Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

3 reviews

marena02's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Rape, Misogyny, Racism, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Abortion, Blood, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

crazytourists_books's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

1.0

This is a perfect example of an over-hyped book that didn't deserve have of the enthusiasm around it. The idea was interesting; if the author had focused on that and not the "romantic" side, it would have been great. A black man, wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for rape, spends five years in prison. Do we read about that? A few pages. Five years covered in a few pages. But HIS dream of having kids? Of having HIS wife? GIS home? Of controlling everything because HE is the man? Of how everyone owes HIM because they haven't been through what HE has been through? Of having sex without protection because HE doesn't want a piece of rubber between him and HIS "cure"? Of unbelievable sexism (by every single character in this book)? Pages upon pages upon pages. 
I liked the narration trick, the three different points of view, but nothing was deep. It could and should have been over after a hundred pages, there was just nothing there. Flat characters, no story. And I am so disappointed and frustrated because the story could have been so much more. 
Ii makes me wonder... did Obama really read this and thought that this book portrayes the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple? Seriously? 
I have no idea why I read all of it, when I knew from the first few pages that it would frustrate, disappoint, and bore me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Cancer, Death of parent, Sexism, Racism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Rape, Abortion, Confinement, and Toxic relationship

mandi4886's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Cancer

Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Slavery