Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

El ferrocarril subterráneo by Colson Whitehead

108 reviews

marcellemf's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery

kristensandiego's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

chattie_the_mad_chatter's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

A hard, but inspirational read. The horrors, moments of hope, consyant fear and very real danger are evident throughoyt. Our ptotagonists physical and mental strength to endure and live is astounding. The truth and reality of her story is what hurts the most refected across this time for so many. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder

ashbcgc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Abandonment

nila's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Sexual assault

hunkydory's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

laverlately's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

littlefroggy's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Medical trauma

cwatson17's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad is a book that while gripping and fast-paced, also ruminates on the past and present state of racism in America. In this book, Cora’s journey acts as a small Odyssey where each state in her long escape from slavery acts as a picaresque episode of alternate presentations of racism. Though unique in their own right, each state provides a harrowing experience that furthers Cora’s determination to survive. Cora herself is the most developed character and through a few chapters at the beginning of the novel, she is already fully-fleshed and believable. Seeing the narrative through her eyes ensures that we are always viewing the world through an empathetic lens, and one that while acknowledging the horrific violence of slavery, does not graphically describe incidents to the point of coming across as exploitative. As a villain, Ridgeway serves as this novel’s Ahab, singularly focused on capturing Cora and finding the Railroad. Through this obsession and cold indifference to violence he becomes the most frightening character in this book, even when compared to the simple brutality of the slave masters. Overall, while I am glad that Whitehead concludes this narrative with a glimpse of hope, this is a challenging read with numerous heart-rending and crushing moments. It’s message is tantamount and essential to the understanding of race in America, even today.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault

sprucy2427's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol