Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Särmikäs Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

184 reviews

rosamund4096's review against another edition

3.5

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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It took me a little while to get in to this book but soon I was gripped and couldn't put it down. I found the ending a bit unsatisfying, I would have liked a bit more time to see the impact of the book's resolution on the different characters.

I found Peters arc a bit frustrating, at times he seemed totally lucid and in touch with what was right and wrong, which was hard to believe as it wasn't clear what had changed to alter his thinking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic

nicolestegall's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Although this was a tough read, I could not put it down. And could not stop thinking about the characters. This will stay with me a very long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Abandonment

ericabailey004's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment

julsilv's review against another edition

4.25

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This book was trauma porn basically. Every time I was like wow that sounds like the most traumatic horrible thing ever, it just kept getting more intense/worse. So, huge trigger warning for abduction, sexual abuse, rape, and violence. 

The hook of the book, where sally burns her father in the beginning, literally almost has nothing to do with the rest of it. It’s so crazy. The book takes a while to pick up in the beginning but after Part II begins it gets a lot more complex and interesting. 

There were some things about this book that are predictable and some that aren’t at all, but it was a fast enough read with enough happening to be really engrossing. 

Great book club book, honestly a lot of questions popped up for discussion about ethics, morals and the line between good and bad, along with themes of what it means to be related to someone and how similar or different you might be from your blood relatives. 

Overall, if you want something dark but a quick read that has some twists, then this could be a great book for you. 

Was content with the ending (that’s all I’ll say without giving it away). 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic

drannieg's review against another edition

4.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

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Well written, but fecking hell this is bleak. Read it all the way through in one sitting is my advice, for if you stop halfway you'll have nightmares. Not really my thing, though I appreciate the craft.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Pregnancy

Minor: Racism, Suicide

knit_the_resistance's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Everything about the book is gripping, upsetting, and unsettling... Until the last 4 paragraphs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic

frankensteinscreature's review against another edition

3.75

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book really hooked me. The opening reminded me of We Have Always Lived in the Castle which is always a positive thing! I’m still not sure how I feel about the ending, I think I was hoping for more twists and turns but this was still a fascinating book that held me all the way through a long train journey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting

jenniferbookishwormish's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Kidnapping

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Violence, Vomit

bookellys's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I’ve seen a lot of hype for this book and I think it’s worth it… mostly.

The book alternates between chapters from Sally’s perspective and Peter’s. Whilst the Sally chapters are in the here and now and offer some great character development, the Peter chapters span 40+ years, proving some great back story. Most chapters are short and snappy and I found myself flying through this book!

Let’s talk about the ending - for how long the book had taken to fill you in on backgrounds and build the characters, it felt a little rushed. I think the last chapter for Peter was the exact right ending though (if you can say that?!) but Sally’s ending was disappointing and I don’t think in line with the Sally we, and the characters in the book, had grown to love.

Also, what’s with the book cover? I don’t feel this represents the book at all! Maybe future editions could consider something more in line with the story (a piano or tatty teddy bear perhaps?) or at least closer to Sally’s actual description in the book.

Overall, I think 4 stars is fair and I would definitely recommend you picking this one up if it’s on your TBR.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship

saoirsha_leabharlann's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A great book focused around someone who is "socially deficient" and finds out a big secre  from her past after her adoptive father dies. I really enjoyed it and it makes you think a lot about mental health and the difference community can make yet also how isolating it can be if you don't fit a certain image.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Torture

Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism

Minor: Suicide, Violence