Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

6 reviews

funktious's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

3.5

Not quite what I was expecting, but a good read nevertheless. I agree with other reviews that it feels like a book of two halves, that don't quite match in tone / pace. My favourite section was the one in Nova Scotia; I enjoyed the setting and the effect it had on Washington.

Also interesting to read a book with white abolitionists that also critiques them and their motives as well as the slavers. And the contrast between the white and non-white characters interested in science and living unconventional lives; how it's so much easier for one than the other, and made so much easier for one by the vastness of the slave trade and plantations providing the money.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

Minor: Sexual violence and Rape

obviousthings's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Racism, Child death, Slavery, Violence, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Pedophilia

erynelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Suicide

thenonbinaryc's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Slavery, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Murder, and Suicide

amachattie's review

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This book had so many beautiful and important things to say. It is such an incredible rewriting of the 18th century's natural history peak to include the silenced voices behind the stories we know. It also, of course, has so many things to say about race, about white saviourism, about the possibility of genuine caring relationships of equals across race and class, about the legacy of slavery. The line about a character having more concern about slavery's stain on whiteness than about slavery's effects on the peoplewho were enslaved will stick with me for a long time. All of this said, I felt frustrated that the ending framed the book as being about Wash's relationship with Titch, instead of about Wash's journey towards healing, though maybe they are the same thing. I feel like this wasn't the book I wanted to read right now, but that I loved it anyways.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Gore, Body horror, and Suicide

wcsheffer's review

adventurous hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A sort of unlikely pick for me. Thrilling, plot-driven historical fiction following the life of a once slave through North America, Europe, and Africa. I found the most compelling things about this book to be the descriptions of the widely varying landscapes and the thematic exploration of family. Which upon further reflection, might have to do with the listening to it instead of reading it. Listened to the audiobook and found the narrator to be excellent except when doing a Scottish accent, that said would absolutely recommend the audiobook. A great one to recommend for literary readers who are looking to read some fantasy or historical fiction that still feels ground in realism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse