Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

104 reviews

kers_tin's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Abandonment

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Murder

stevia333k's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.25

So it should first be said that evolutionary psychology "evopsych" was developed as enslavement propaganda/apologia as well as (war) rape culture apologia. Like these discussions of instinct & connection are important for unpacking some political implications. I haven't done that yet. This is important because this book had a lot of listen to nature & communing with nature vibes so to know there is definitely discourses for that even if the histiographies are racist bourgeois patriarchal is helpful. Like that's been something I've been trying to learn by recently reading about famines. Point being, if this is going to be some people's introduction to listening to nature then I'll need to figure out where the starting point is at.

This book gave me Katniss Everdeen vibes, and that was definitely a thing I would think about as I read this book. I liked the setting a lot, communing with the other life forms etc. Like doing prayers at parks instead of schools is more my vibe so.

I was told this book was very feminist & that was helpful. I thought the book might've been poly but it wasn't. Like one of the boyfriends ended up being a self-centered rapist.

Anyways, I actually thought she was black until I thought about the school scene & was like wait a minute the schools were segregated back then. The discussion of desegregation if business towards the end was awkward because that's not desegregation of homes, but whatever.

Anyway, she's white. The title for this book in Spanish calls her "savaje", a savage. Thankfully there's no cultural appropriation of native/indigenous Americans, but still keep an eye on that in discussions about this book because that would end up putting a bunch of racist stereotypes on people. But that would be more the fault of the readers I think.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lajoy's review

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, and Mental illness

miggyfool's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

ambb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

I can’t put into words how I feel after reading this. This is one of those books you really mourn finishing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

micaelamariem's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

 

For the past couple of years, it seemed like everyone was raving about this book. Last year, I picked it up because it was on sale and I had heard of it, but not knowing what it was about I put it to the side to collect dust. But now the movie is out and people are talking about it again, and I thought it was about time I give it a try.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (published by Corsair) is a book that’s hard to describe. It’s about the life of Kya Clark, the “Marsh Girl” as everyone in the town calls her. It’s about her struggles with abandonment, lonliness, prejudice, and living in the wild. It’s about love and loss and biology. And it’s also sort of a murder mystery.

This was, without a doubt, a good book. I don’t know if it would be accurate to say I “enjoyed” it as it is a sad book that had me tearing up every other chapter, but I like the book. I thought the writing style was beautiful and poetic in a way that connected Kya’s life to the wild marshlife, and to me it seemed like there were nods to Walden or to Rachel Carson here and there. I also enjoyed the nods to poetry. Plus, there were themes of overcoming prejudices, especially in the court scenes, that reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird, in some ways. I also really loved Jumpin, and how he became a psuedo-father to Kya. He was easily the best character.

Some criticisms of the book claim that it was genre-confused, and I can see where they were coming from. It is marketed as a mystery, but I think it’s less that and moreso literary and historical fiction. Perhaps that’s why I liked, though, as someone who typically hates mysteries! I also would have liked maybe more hope in the book, though there are threads, and it’s not a completley sad ending. It’s definitley not a book for people who are looking for something lighthearted, that’s for sure.

I do think it is an important book, however. The historical setting can help readers understand past prejudices while also confronting their own. The nature of Kya and her biological interests can cause readers to look at nature with a new appreciation. We can also reflect on characters and what is right and wrong, as well as reflect on the differences between loneliness and solitude.

Overall, I’m rating this book four stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War

lily2804's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

james1star's review

adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely loved this book so much. I don’t want to say too much as I feel the less you know the better and more rewarding reading experience you will get from ‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ but basically, we follow Kya (or the Marsh Girl) who is abandoned as a child in the marsh of North Carolina, ostracised by society and left to fend for herself. The novel interjects the story of Kya’s child-to-adulthood with the investigation into the death of a local man where Kya is the lead suspect. I won’t say anymore about the plot.

What didn’t I like? Honestly nothing. The only thing is maybe a little disparity in terms of writing style between the nature scenes and character interactions - likely because Owens is more experienced in nature writing but overall was still really good. Also, it’s a little bit too descriptive in some parts. 

Getting that out of the way, I ab-so-fkn-lutely LOVED the nature descriptions!! They are so dense, so transportive, so beautiful. Honestly the way Owens crafts these sections it truly astonishing and captivating. Also, our protagonist Kya is so damn lovable, she is so pure and just I don’t know?! I loved her so much. And Tate is adorable!! Oh my god - dream man DREAM MAN I tell you!! Yes, they have their flaws but that’s what makes them real. And despite there flaws (very minor to other characters) they are lovely, kind, caring human beings. And Jumpin’ and Mabel - my heart!! Also the message of protracting out natural environments is so vital and put across beautifully. 

How the New York Times put it ‘at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature’ perfectly sums up this book. You are invested in every aspect and I felt so many emotions reading this - joy, dread, stress, love, longing, heart broken, heart warmed, betrayed and so many more. I loved this this book! Totally totally recommend, if not for the plot then the admiration of nature. 

Easy 5 starts from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Hate crime, Mental illness, Rape, and Murder

slutforhotwings's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Slavery, Colonisation, and War

theteamsreader's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0

A beautifully written and cultivated book.  The writing is incredible and the way the author lures you in with a permanent backdrop of nature and unique characterisation is brilliant.  However, plot-wise, this book just wasn't  my cup of tea.  I recommend this to anyone who wants a nature-filled story with a murder mystery subplot and a large focus on coming-of-age drama.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Infertility, Stalking, Death of parent, and Gaslighting