Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

In Flammen by Megha Majumdar

35 reviews

dowleyrachel's review against another edition

dark sad 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

3.0

I was hoping that this would take a twist, or create a hero from an unexpected place. But it seems like it's supposed to read like a tragedy, where the desire to escape poverty and live a modern middle class lifestyle will cause all to blur lines of justice and remove themselves from accountability of the neighbor. Would be curious to know more about where the author drew inspiration from and the real life stories they are trying to echo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Rape, Islamophobia, Murder, Police brutality, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Confinement

there's a moment where a group of people at a political rally form a mob and kill 3 daughters, rape their mother, and kill the father of a Muslim family over a supposed rumor that he butchered a cow. The scene was not long but the details were still very vivid.

nehaanna's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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: Hate crime, Xenophobia, Transphobia, and Islamophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, Police brutality, Racism, and Colonisation

ka_cam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

It took me a couple days to get into this book but once I got sucked in I read most of it in one day. Tense is one word, the depiction of corruption and betrayal was visceral at times. Sometimes the one-time interludes really added to the narrative and other times distracted from our primary characters. This book involves graphic depictions of religiously motivated violence and murder, as well as state sanctioned violence- definitely check the content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Murder, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Rape, Violence, Child death, Chronic illness, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Body horror, Confinement, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Grief

donutlookaway's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Transphobia

Moderate: Islamophobia, Blood, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape

Minor: Police brutality, Confinement, and Grief

knenigans's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.0

Dark and human and funny and tragic.

Recommend as an audiobook as the voice actor for Lovely is fantastic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Torture, Genocide, Murder, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Classism, and Transphobia

hollistera's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

This book confronted socio-political injustices that are unfortunately a world wide problem. Tense, and thought provoking. Content warnings for transphobia, police brutality, judicial murder, and mentions of rape.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Police brutality

Minor: Rape

laurenw's review against another edition

reflective sad

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Medical content, Misogyny, and Excrement

katielouisef's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

0.5

Jivan is arrested for a crime she didn’t commit but everyone believes she did it. From Kolkata to the slums of Kolabagan, the future seems to be cut short by political corruption and anti-Muslim hate.

I honestly am lost for words with this book.

A truly disappointing read. In less than 20 pages, we have a meagre introduction, an acting class, a terrorist attack, an arrest, a judge appearance, another character talking about a relationship and a sentencing.

Despite covering an important theme about the treatment of Muslims in India it merely glosses over that treatment. When writing about such topics in a fictional setting it really needs to be done well or just not at all in my opinion.

<Spoiler>  - the death of two characters were covered in less than a page.’ <Spoiler> 

Jivan, despite being a victim of a corrupted government has very few redeemable qualities and is her ignorance shines when she doesn’t want to hear about the other inmates stories. Needless to say she would’ve learned a few things had she listened.

It’s such a shame about the poor plot and execution of the book especially given as it’s such an important topic to talk about. I will however try and find some more on similar topics to read instead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Police brutality and Racism

tayterchip's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Death, and Confinement

Moderate: Police brutality, Rape, and Transphobia

travelseatsreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.0

I'd put off reading A Burning for a bit as I'd seen quite a few hit or miss reviews. If it's one you're in two minds about picking up I would suggest definitely giving it a chance, especially the audiobook.

The story centers around 3 major characters, Jivan who is imprisoned for a terrorist act she did not commit, Lovely a transgender woman chasing her dream to become an actress and PT Sir an opportunistic gym teacher with some very questionable morals. Through their eyes we get to see a heartbreaking story of corruption, oppression and intense manipulation unfold.

Megha Majumdar has written each character so distinctively and vibrantly that from within the first few moments I was immediately captivated and connected to the characters and their stories. This connection was definitely enhanced by the energetic and spirited audiobook narration which fully brought each character to life.

A thought-provoking, heart-breaking novel which looks at some complex issues without feeling overbearing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia