Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn

41 reviews

asainspace's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Trafficking and Abandonment

blau_elmo's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

5.0

A brilliant exploration of many converging themes, all centered around the fate of being black in Jamaica. A story of poverty, betrayal and struggle, focused on a main cast of different women whose lives are intertwined, each with a sharply distinct personality, but sharing in the fact that they are all prone to suffering by their sheer existence due to being poor and black in Jamaica.

It is a story of abuse, one that ends in abject despair and loneliness. Every character is detestable to a certain extent, so filled with vitriol and cunning, but none of them seem unreasonable or irredeemable. Dennis-Benn shapes their stories so clearly and precisely that each character's decisions, values and justifications for their vile actions are absolutely understandable.

An incredibly powerful story of something so real and revolting; a human drama of breathtaking proportions.

My favourite read of the year so far.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death and Blood

Minor: Eating disorder

elizabethgreads's review against another edition

challenging 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? No

3.5

Paraidise comes at a cost that is served by the locals. This book gives and honest look at upscale resorts being built by wealthy outsides and the effects it has on the people who live in the community.  It shows the struggles that comes with making ends meet and the stark differences the locals see from what the tourist see.

It was hard to read about the sex work that the main character performs in order to pay the bills and provide for her little sister. The love and hurt the main sister experiences is both inspiring and heart breaking at the same time.

There is a look into sexuality and the bigotry and hate the same sex couples experience. This might be trigger for some readers.  The discussions felt heartfelt and authentic. 

Its to say I enjoyed the book (because of how tough the subject matter is to read) but i thought it was well written and I thought the ending was well done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Rape

kelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Blood, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Grief, Biphobia, Sexism, Trafficking, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Classism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Self harm

jadenchimes06's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Self harm, Alcohol, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, and Violence

sohva's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I am conflicted of this book. On one hand it is well-written, the characters are interesting and the description of the environment is immersive. On the other hand there is no sense of direction for the majority of the book. The characters just get worse and worse and get into shittier and shittier situation, but it is unclear until close to the end whether this solves any purpose.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Lesbophobia, Racism, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexism

Moderate: Dementia, Abandonment, and Classism

cheerful_elephant's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Looking at hotel development and family troubles from a different angle. I enjoyed it 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape and Violence

lostinthelibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5

This was a tough but rewarding read. The characters and the setting just spring from the page and I felt a full range of emotions and opinions regarding them. The Jamaican patois and the nature images added even more to a grim story in a vibrant setting. This is a book I won't be forgetting in a hurry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

Moderate: Classism and Hate crime

rworrall78'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Amazing. Complicated lives and motivations. People doing terrible things because terrible things have been done to them. And people doing terrible things because they think it will save someone else (and maybe themselves). Others do terrible things because their money and the centuries of colonial privilege and theft mean they think they can do what they like. 
Shines a light on the destruction wrought on people and communities by capitalism, colonialism, violence to women, racism and colourism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Rape

Moderate: Violence and Colonisation

cthornhill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book is beautifully written and horrifyingly heartbreaking. It is an emotional breakwater and reading it feels like being swept up by a current and smashed against the sea wall repeatedly. The characters are so real, the story so believable and the imagery stunning but it is tough. I would recommend it to anyone strong enough to take it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual content