Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

172 reviews

mmccombs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Toni Morrison’s pen is just unmatched! Every sentence feels careful, measured, a thin blade exacted in just the right way to perfectly achieve what the moment needs. The character work in this book is where it most shines. Even though Pecola is the main character in this story, she more so acts as connective tissue through which we probe the people around her, the ways in which their stories hinder their ability to fully see or love Pecola in the ways she needs it. I loved how Morrison dissects how white supremacy fuels shame and feelings of inadequacy, which in turn breeds hate, violence, and disconnectedness. I think this is a book I’ll need to read again to get at the many layers of it, just truly a work of art.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Racism, Misogyny, and Animal death

nadiaxm's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, and Incest

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty

zsyh's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Violence, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Animal death

nimzieee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Animal death, Rape, Animal cruelty, Incest, and Racism

2busyreading's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty

withsquared's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, and Incest

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Physical abuse, Death, Pregnancy, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Child death

wasabiapple's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Animal death, Pedophilia, Bullying, Rape, Racism, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Violence, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death and Miscarriage

emilosophy's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal death and Death

jana_abw's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

4.5
Such a sad story written so beautifully. 
I’ve never read a book with such poetic sentences. 

This book did feel a little disjointed at times but I think on a re-read would make much more sense. 

#2 book club read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Classism, Racism, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Incest, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment

breanneporter's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

Toni Morrison was a genius and this is a brilliant novel, but I never want to read it again. It is so beautifully written, and so thought-provoking and moving, but it is viscerally painful to read at times and I know it’s gonna be hard to shake some of the more ghastly and violent scenes (which is to say, take the content warnings seriously). I read this mostly by following along in my novel while listening to the audiobook, read by Toni Morrison herself, which was a great pleasure. I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while and just it for the first time thanks to the #toni2024 challenge. I’m both excited and fearful to continue my journey through Toni Morrison’s oeuvre - Sula is next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Rape, and Racial slurs