Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

212 reviews

sarina_klinst's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

This book broke me! 
But I beleave everybody should read IT...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Racism, Classism, Cursing, Sexual content, Rape, Misogyny, Miscarriage, and Incest

samants's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

A heartbreaking story of generational trauma, racial self-loathing, and the destruction of societal beauty standards. Read this one quickly but will be thinking about it for a while. A hard read but an important one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Animal death, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

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

skylerreads28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

It is so hard to describe and review this book because it is more than just a story about a little girl facing racism in America, it is about girlhood as a whole experience, poverty, inherited misogyny, and the accepting of one’s inevitable fate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, Body shaming, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

lockg6704'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

As always incredible writing and incredibly impactful and challenging 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

cassafrass2273's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Really beautifully done but a very hard read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Incest, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Alcoholism

morenowagain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

hconstable's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

0.5

I thought this book was going to be commentary on the social issues and racism plaguing the Black community.  But this book, frankly, was gross.  This book's purpose at times seemed to just want to talk about bodily functions, animal abuse, and sexual activity including incest and rape.  I just don't understand what literary value this book is supposed to have because I found none.  I wish I could get the hours back that I spent reading it.  I feel gross and in need of a shower.  If the desire was to make Black men seem ignorant, worthless and violent, it succeeded.  I'm too embarrassed to tell anyone I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Animal death

historicalmaterialgirl's review against another edition

challenging sad fast-paced

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

4.0

"Love is never any better than the lover." 💙

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Racism