Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Hjem by Toni Morrison

31 reviews

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Medical trauma, Racism, Mental illness, War, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, Police brutality, Blood, Gore, and Violence

Minor: Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, and Adult/minor relationship

hairybean's review against another edition

4.0

Very difficult themes (heed the trigger warnings), beautifully written. Two unmoored characters having to face such adversity without and within, building a home for themselves in spite of everything. The ending was really beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Medical trauma

ghulsona's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Violence, War, and Medical content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime

Minor: Infertility

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

my second toni morrison book and the conclusion is maybe we just dont click??

home def has its moments, and its portrayal of jim crow era racism is jarring and realistic--one cant simply read it and not feel even a smidgen of disgust or despair--and a reminder of the horror and abomination of that time. the depiction of a traumatized vet, the hyprocrisy of american society and army, the community and camaraderie among black folks, and cee's & frank's character developments are major positives as well.

however, i couldnt rly connect to the characters, thus my subtle disassociation from them and their plight, rendering my reading experience sth of a frequent stop and start w/o any distinct emotional beat--and emotional impact just happens to be sth i highly value in my reading. this isnt a bad book by any means--it's by toni morrison, for god's sake--but it's not rly my cup of tea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Racism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Minor: Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Infertility

santi37's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Violence

cdiddy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, and War

bookishplantmom's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.5

As with many Morrison books this is a beautifully written and gut wrenching story. The author is unflinching in her depictions of some of the harshest realities Black Americans face. These are the types of stories I have the deepest respect for but struggle to « enjoy » because they strike so close to home (no pun intended). A necessary book which feels almost too real for me to handle. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Drug use, Medical trauma, and Racism

kumquatlemon's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

3.75

Morrison writes characters into existence in a way that makes them feel alive. I feel like I've met Cee before, heard about Frank from friends, and was raised by the women of Lotus. The world they inhabited felt real, like it was a fraction of the story many of us share and come to live, but with experiences so unknowable and specific to the people that tell it. 

HOME is written to examine what that word means, who you share it with, and how you come to name it. It is a beautiful book, with beautiful structure, and an even more beautiful message.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Grief, Medical content, Blood, and Medical trauma

Depictions of bodily harm typical of war.

gloriatulwan's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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

❤️

Instant 5/5, read it in 4 hours, cried at the end.

"In this world with these people she wanted to be the person who would never again need rescue."

"I can be miserable if I want to. You don't need to try and make it go away. It shouldn't go away. It's just as sad as it ought to be and I'm not going to hide from what's true just because it hurts."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

jenniferlynnkrohn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

 As always, Toni Morrison's sentences are just a joy to listen to. I appreciate how she shows the tragedies, hardships, and abuses that the characters endure with such compassion. In this story, we follow Frank Money who is returning home from the Korean War and dealing with PTSD and US's racism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Medical trauma

PTSD