Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Love by Toni Morrison

8 reviews

mollysparkles's review

4.0

This was a challenging read with a poignant story attached! Frequently I find myself picking up easy reads, I’m glad I challenged myself with this and I’m looking forward to more novels like hers going forward. My first Morrison novel, her prose definitely commands your full attention. I enjoyed this story of how much of an impact a person can leave, even after they’re gone. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

happybookday's review

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

This book made me realize how impactful one’s death can truly be on people. The women went through the most conflicting periods just to come to a realization that they are just humans existing, and I love that. 

TW: there is a borderline sexual assault scene in one of the first chapters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Pedophilia

cassielaj's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

Toni Morrison is a literary genius. There’s a whole lot else to say, but that sums it up. No one but her could write about the hardest, most heartbreaking stuff that humanity has to offer alongside the most beautiful, and all of it in the most stunning prose you’ll ever read. This is a deeply nuanced book that I’m sure has something new for every read, yet it doesn’t feel like it has to be an English class book. Whether you just want to read a good story or you want to parse and analyze, Toni Morrison’s writing is the best you can find for either purpose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Racism, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Death, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Police brutality, Miscarriage, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

caseybones's review

dark emotional sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Rape

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Minor: Violence

michaelion's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-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

3.5

Sula and Nel, the people of Ruby, Oklahoma, and Violet, Joe, and Dorcas all culminate in this excellently written book, as usual for Miss Morrison, but, just like Jazz, it wasn't for me. And for similar reasons. However, I do like this one more. Probably because it focuses a bit more on the women than it does the man who scorned himself.

The only reason why I'm comparing the books is because I asked myself why am I giving Love a higher rating than I gave Jazz despite the fact that I liked more elements in Jazz than I did in Love? It's because what I liked in Jazz wasn't central to the main story,

the back story involving Wild and Golden Gray, mostly, as well as Joe and Violet's history,

meanwhile in Love it's all there. Meant to be absorbed at once. The gaps and pieces meant to be glued together or filled in complete everyone's story. The friends / sisters turned enemies are one and the same, not self made victims (like Joe). Something about power dynamics I guess, I think. Anyway.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Bullying, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Grief, Sexual content, and Infidelity

Minor: Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, War, and Slavery

ktkeps's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Sexism, Vomit, Abortion, Classism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Racism

dark_marble_eyes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was definitely a hard read due to the subject matter. The way the layers were peeled back was definitely painful before it was enlightening, but, as another reviewer wrote, the final chapter lends some catharsis and satisfaction.
I’m glad I pushed through. Morrison is wildly talented in her storytelling. Though I gave it a 4, if it was based on the mastery of writing and storytelling alone, it would be a solid 5.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Vomit, Mental illness, Racism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Excrement

ehmannky's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Nothing makes me miss being an English major more than reading Morrison's work. It is so beautiful to read and there's just so much in these relatively short novels and I just want to talk to other people about it with people with hours. It's such a poignant look at the ways that hurt people hurt people, especially those who should be their natural allies and greatest loves. It hurt to read about the ways in which one greedy, selfish, misogynistic man (who did do some good things, and was also just trying to succeed as a Black man in a white world, but also worked to ensure that he was at the top while not helping lift up those in his community) destroys the love between two girls. There was a bit towards the end that I don't want to give away that just took my breath away, it was so beautiful and sad and lovely. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Racism, Infertility, and Mental illness

Minor: Vomit