Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

5 reviews

passionyoungwrites's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

“There are several kinds of happiness  Washington. Sometimes it is not for us to choose, or even understand, the one granted us.”

🦅 

Named “George Washington Black” by his former slave master, Wash sees and lives the happenings on a Barbados Sugar Plantation. Watched over and protected by a woman that goes by “Big Kit”, who makes Wash to believe they the only way out of slavery is to die. She tells him that his death, or any slaves death, will allow their spirit to go back to their motherland. That belief is altered once the new Master sees that the slaves are committing suicide to make that happen. 

🦅 

Wash is then summoned to the new masters brother quarters, where he is told that he will work as an assistant - no more a field slave. His live basically changes and still he is fearful for a while. 

Some time later, a white man is killed or I should say dies in his presence and Wash then has a bounty out on his head. 

🦅 

Wash is one of few slaves that gets to see a white man’s mercy. In this story we travel with Wash and see him navigate life as a free man. Making choices along the way that suites him. He carries his drawings and love for science with him throughout the years and leads a life mostly to his liking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Blood, and Slavery

beetroots's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, Suicide, and Slavery

stellarstar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

4.5

Brilliantly written, disappointing ending. Would have preferred more clarity. Ending is rather abrupt. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Gun violence, Trafficking, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Classism, Cursing, Sexism, Colonisation, Abandonment, Child death, Confinement, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism

Minor: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Eating disorder

izwit's review against another edition

adventurous reflective sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Racism

gwendolynaudrey_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

So close to a 5 star for me -- the ending was a little disheartening and honestly, confusing. The rest of the book is an amazing depiction of the realities of slavery, through the eyes of an "exceptional" young boy who escapes slavery and forges an uncertain life as an illustrator among academics and scientists. Adventurous and globe trotting. Fellow white people -- read this to understand how a "savior complex" does not rid you of the evils of the institution. Washington, the main character, is exceptionally loveable. The prose is beautiful and heart wrenching. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Slavery, Abandonment, Colonisation, Racial slurs, and Racism