Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

68 reviews

michaelion's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Trying to find reasons not to give this 5 stars is very, very hard. I'm biased because immediately it reminded me of Toni Morrison's Paradise. Whether or not that was intentional, I'm not gonna look it up, but I love it even more for that.

Passing is a thing that happened and I'm sure there are still many, many quadroons and hexadecaroons walking around without a clue. I've always felt sympathy for the people who passed, and this book definitely gave me a new / another understanding. (I mean, who can be mad at you for wanting better for your life and your family?) To be moved so much by a book show just how good it is. That being said though I do not feel sympathy for Stella!

After what she did to Loretta and Reg?!

This one's definitely staying on my bookshelf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Grief, Racism, and Outing

Moderate: Sexual assault, Bullying, Classism, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, and Gaslighting

Minor: Terminal illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Stalking, Blood, Deadnaming, and Medical content

cakrolik's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Classism, Grief, and Racism

Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Sexism

annieogg's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Dementia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Dysphoria

Many triggering topics are discussed, but it's in a very thoughtful, constructive way. There is no sensationalism.

glammster's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Dementia, Bullying, Classism, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Minor: Dysphoria

Graphic description of lynching

monloesco's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

So happy I finally got around to read this book, it was great and really heart-touching. I would’ve liked a different ending or

at least a little bit of update on Stella and Kennedy’s lives, not just Desiree and Jude’s lives. I would’ve also liked a little more confrontation and conversation when Stella goes back to Mallard, since it felt a little bit rushed and anticlimatic.

Overall great book, a great insight on race and identity without feeling academic or lecture-like. (Shoutout a @Coby por mi birthday gift).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment and Classism

Minor: Dysphoria and Murder

lpdx's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Dementia, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Homophobia

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Transphobia

laughingrecord's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Blood, and Death

anna_catherine73's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Literally my favourite book I have read so far this year. Such a rich cast of characters that feel so real from Bennett’s writing. Brit Bennet is a superb author, I would read anything she writes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Abandonment

Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Dementia, Death, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, and Grief

lenaricharz's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dysphoria, Bullying, Dementia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Domestic abuse

spark_879's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent

Minor: Dementia, Dysphoria, and Transphobia