Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

66 reviews

mezzoanddolce's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

this just wasnt for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Blood, Incest, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

wellreadjill_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Miscarriage, Racism, and Mental illness

guacamolejoe's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh my god. This is my first Toni Morrison novel and I’m glad. The style was very diff than expected it felt like acts in a play to me or something but I really like it. Poor lil girl 🥺

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Pedophilia

ldpaige's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I hate that I didn't completely love this like everyone else did. After looking at various blogposts and book club breakdowns, I was able to better understand what I just heard over a course of a few days. With a better understanding, I was able to appreciate this disturbing read. 

Morrison tends to lean to the macabre and the countercultural, which is normally for me. This just didn't translate the way I would have liked for it to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Mental illness, Abandonment, Rape, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Incest

waiiowinging's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

I passed on this book during my high school curriculum out of fear my white male teacher would ruin the text for me. I'm very glad that I held off and got to experience this book on my own. Reading the afterword, I realized that this book is meant to change the behavior of the above all. I hope to implement what I've Learned by giving more of my love and attention to those that society has deemed unworthy of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, and Sexual violence

br14nn4's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Animal death, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Incest, Excrement, Domestic abuse, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Emotional abuse

ajnsmiths's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

This magnificent novel was made even more powerful by listening to the audiobook narrated by the author. Even if you’ve read it before, listen to it. The power of Toni’s written words as she speaks them to you will blow you away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Racism

mattyvreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

An absolutely harrowing and hugely important piece of literature. Possibly the saddest book I have ever read.

Morrison’s words are pure poetry. The issues she discusses in this novel are still relevant today. Not just horrifying, but horrifyingly true.

Everyone should read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Animal death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Misogyny, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Alcoholism

sarahrosea's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual content, Racism, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Mental illness

unawake0442's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

Toni Morrison is a legend for a reason.

As I read, I kept thinking about the author's foreword, in which Morrison says she wanted the reader not to pity Pecola, but to examine their role in smashing her. Reading actively, with this in mind was eye-opening. How many times do we pity someone in worse circumstances than our own but do nothing to help or look away from our role in that oppression, intentional or not?

The Bluest Eye feels like a warning. It is a warning to those who tore Pecola down, the would-be protectors who failed her, the friends who were busy trying to get by themselves and let her fall through the cracks, the strangers who watched and did nothing but make remarks. And, of course, to Pecola herself.

There are many ways in which we fit all of these roles. I know I am, at times, perpetually busy and haven't reached out to loved ones as often as I should. I've stood in front of the mirror, wanting more, hurting myself with that want. I've pitied others without doing enough to be helpful.

The Bluest Eye feels just as essential today as ever.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Minor: Mental illness