Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Women of Brewster Place

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor

9 reviews

bookishevy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The Women of Brewster Place revolves around seven women.

-Mattie, the most prominent character in the novel. She ends up at Brewster Place after coddling her grown son causes her to lose her home.
-Etta, Mattie's life-long best friend, moves to Brewster Place to settle down but keeps looking for love in all the wrong places.
-Kiswana, formerly named Melanie, is from a middle-class family. She drops out of college and moves from the upscale Linden Hills to Brewster Place to the chagrin of her mother.
-Cora, loves having babies but neglects her children after infancy. She resolves to be a better mother after taking them to a Shakespeare play.
-Luciela, grows up alongside Mattie's son and later lives at Brewster Place with her boyfriend Eugene until a tragic event leaves her heartbroken.
-Theresa, a bold lesbian who doesn't care what others think but eventually becomes disturbed by the prejudice she and her partner face at Brewster Place.
--Lorraine, Theresa's timid girlfriend, worries about being judged by the other members of Brewster Place for her sexuality. This judgment gives way to acts of violence that lead to a breaking point when members of Brewster Place congregate for a block party.

I love Naylor's writing and how she balances the bleak picture she paints of Brewster Place with smart and funny dialogue. Brewster Place is both a last resort and sanctuary. The block is cut off from the rest of the community by a wall that symbolizes a distinction in class and race. That dead-end is a literal representation of these people's lives. Most of them seem to have accepted that it's not going to get better. The owner of the buildings of Brewster Place is a slumlord who doesn't care to refurbish these apartments that are inhabited by blacks. Living in poverty is frustrating, but there's also a lot of love at Brewster Place. Like Mattie and Etta, who make fun of, but accept, each other's flaws; and Kiswana, who is so caring to Cora's kids and brings her community together to demand change. This book is a celebration of the hopes of black women in America.

Content Warnings

lyssie03's review against another edition

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dark hopeful informative tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

gobblingupbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

I really loved this but holy shit check trigger warnings before reading!! That last story really took it out of me

My favorite story was Mattie! I also really loved Naylor’s lyrical, feverish prose in the prologue and epilogue.

Content Warnings