Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Scarlet Letter: Large Print by Nathaniel Hawthorne

5 reviews

gaypoetree's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

4 stars: I liked it better than expected and would read it again!

Who decides what is wrong, and for whom? What is the “right” way to approach guilt? What are the consequences of accountability, and lack thereof? Can (and should) one take “accountability” for a wrong that wasn’t even all that wrong? These are the questions that most compelled The Scarlet Letter for me. 

I’ve read some people talk about this book in terms of the relationship between the supposed sinners; to me, that may be the least important part. The narrative begins after the affair is concluded because, for Hawthorne, scandal is the least interesting part of the story; what he really cares about is  interested parties cope afterward. I think that perspective is what makes this book worth reading over 200 years later. The scale of Hester Prynne’s sin seems even more minute now than it did in 1850. If anything, I think that helps the experience. In an age where everything is online forever, a metaphorical scarlet letter can get pinned to anyone at any time; the question of how harsh a treatment such a person might deserve, as well as how to go about living with it, is an important one to consider.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Pregnancy

teatunesandtales's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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

2.75

Finally finished. While the chapters were short, the book as a whole was a slow crawl. Hawthorne's excessive use of details created lengthy paragraphs that was easy to get lost in the story, and not in a good way. And I've never been more ready to finish the book, and never read the word "ignominy" again. 

Puritanicalism is not for the faint of heart. If you can't be perfect, you won't make it in their world. 

I loved Pearl's wild heart and imagination. It was a bright spot to the book.

Long love Hester Prynne's legacy. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Colonisation, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Infidelity

Minor: Pregnancy

anoushka05's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Classism, Infidelity, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Colonisation

kelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Sexism

wcharliebrown's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Colonisation