Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

9 reviews

hennesieinthepages's review

dark emotional inspiring 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Moderate: Racism and Gun violence

sarahelem's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Went into this not knowing what I was getting into. This is heavy. I cried. Still, I think this book sheds light on an important narrative that I think we should all hear.

Take note: this book is very trigger heavy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: War, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Deportation, Colonisation, Antisemitism, Hate crime, Gun violence, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Incest, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Infidelity

litliz's review

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book took me a bit to get into but once I was in, I was in all the way. Ana grows so much during the course of the book, which begins in the Dominican Republic but quickly takes her journey to Washington Heights. There are some really lovely passages that depict different things - one of my favorites essentially shows her disassociation in the wake of receiving tragic news after experiencing a series of traumas. Another fascinating chapter discusses the challenges faced by Dominicans in the US during the Civil Rights movement, and the idea that black people would resent Dominicans or perhaps feel that they had the market cornered on oppression and prejudice. I felt like the novel really highlighted the strength of its protagonist Ana’s spirit, the complicated dynamics between mother and daughter, and the very mixed feelings Ana has for almost every person she consistently interacts with, particularly her abusive husband, Juan, whom she feels both a strong loathing but also indebted to. Ana’s voice in particular felt very authentic and real to me and is the reason this book was so powerful, in my mind. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Medical content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Fatphobia

Minor: Ableism, Deportation, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Miscarriage, Violence, Vomit, War, Excrement, and Xenophobia

libre_coffeeandpages's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.0

Personally, this story was a SOLID 4 stars. I couldn’t put it down and literally finished it in a single sitting. My heart really ached for the protagonist, and I instantly appreciated the fact that I picked up this book. The only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars was because the prose weren’t as spellbinding as I normally prefer. Given the story and the leading lady though, I don’t know how else it could’ve been, but that was just my reaction after letting the story settle for a bit. Dominicana is insightful, inspirational, and an emotional piece. I really recommend it for those that enjoy novels inspired by real stories, anyone that has an interest in immigration or immigrant stories, or perhaps someone looking to alleviate some of their own pains through shared trauma experience in stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, and Racism

Minor: Violence and Death

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Death, Grief, Incest, Gun violence, War, Alcohol, Child death, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Car accident, Colonisation, Excrement, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Vomit, Ableism, Abortion, Antisemitism, and Drug use

Smoking. Strangulation/suffocation. Colorism, antiblackness.

joelleen's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

I had a really hard time getting through this story. I appreciate that it is based on real experiences and learned a lot but it was a hard read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Gun violence, Death, Confinement, Child death, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, War, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Bullying

kyahs's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.5

A must read book that provides insight into the life and struggles of a Dominicana Immigrant in American. Full of culture and hard truths.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Minor: War, Hate crime, Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Violence

sofiaxaguilar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

lmf0906's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Gun violence