Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

98 reviews

annaf90's review against another edition

slow-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

3.0

I feel like this book was pretty slow moving. It is interesting in that it gives at least part of the story of every person and situation involved in some way, demonstrating just how complex life is, but that also makes it very, very convoluted and somewhat difficult to follow. I had to re-listen to various parts a few times to make sure I understood what was happening. 

It also felt like, for how slowly the story moved and for how immensely detailed the whole story was, the ending felt abrupt and rushed. There was very little story about what happened to everyone after the fact, aside from one person. The dichotomy of that could be artful, I suppose, but instead it felt unbalanced and lacking. 

There were a few points that were too graphic for my comfort. 

My final verdict: I’d recommend the book if someone was already interested in the story but wouldn’t likely encourage someone to read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Antisemitism

Minor: Violence and Murder

Sexual abuse of a child

aly97's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Excrement, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Police brutality

laurenmiller100's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

• Characters: 9
• Atmosphere/Setting: 10
• Writing Style: 8
• Plot: 7
• Intrigue: 7
• Logic/Relationships: 9
• Enjoyment: 8

This books is great. The book so wonderfully describes and details a small immigrant town and the interactions between the different groups, cultures, and ethnicities. This is a story where the location and environment are as much of a character as the characters. Some of the content is difficult, but the story is worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Infertility and Death of parent

katosta8815's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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

2.0

This book was not my favorite. The writing was overly descriptive and made way too much fluff. The chapters did not flow together well, and each scene change felt very abrupt. There were way too many characters to keep track of, and not enough time given to the MCs. New characters were being introduced even in the last few chapters, which was obnoxious.

All of the deaths were underwhelming and written in a confusing way — two of them were beloved characters, and I didn’t even feel sad when they died because I simply didn’t realize what happened. The third death was so incredibly random, and didn’t feel like justice at all.

Read the trigger warnings, and be prepared for it to be worse than what you’re anticipating.

Overall, from start to finish, the story itself was beautiful, but challenging. Some of the subject matter made me put the book down and walk away for a few days. But I liked the ending. I just didn’t like the way it was written, and probably won’t revisit this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia

roselynreadsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Violence

emma_sky's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Pedophilia and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Slavery, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, and Alcohol

melissaamy7's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Forced institutionalization

greenan26's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Excrement, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol

victoriastarkid's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Forced institutionalization and Excrement

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry

killeenm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.0

I liked it overall. I’m not sure why some plot points existed, and I wished things had been made a bit more clear. It got REALLY dark at times in ways that I didn’t think added to the storyline.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism