Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Bear by Marian Engel

5 reviews

toffishay's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

Lou is a woman looking to understand herself, to find direction and meaning in life. Her job on Cary's Island and her connection with the bear allows her to find a connection with herself, with the world around her, and her place in it. It's absolutely a controversial book and will not be for everyone. I don't even really know if it's for me! But I connected with Lou's journey for self-discovery and I found myself at the end feeling contented, like there is something in this book that I can come away with too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion, Excrement, Colonisation, Alcohol, Vomit, Infidelity, Classism, and Racism

simply_fran's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Sexual content

Moderate: Colonisation, Excrement, Alcohol, Racism, Sexual assault, and Infidelity

Minor: Pregnancy, Blood, Misogyny, and Abortion

framedflower's review

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Sexual content

Moderate: Colonisation and Sexism

_taylorsian's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Excrement and Infidelity

offbrandclubsoda's review

dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Wow. I’m not surprised this book has been called “the most controversial book in Canadian history.” It is something else!
I was intrigued and disturbed but I definitely liked the book more after I read the afterword at the end. The message in the afterword is quite profound. 

Not for the squeamish or feint of heart. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Blood

Minor: Alcohol, Colonisation, Excrement, and Sexual assault