Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Passing by Nella Larsen

8 reviews

booksillremember's review

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Masterful, loved the complex layering of emotions, themes and social identities. 

It's a gripping story with sapphic undertones, an unreliable narrator and an ambiguous ending. Would love to read the novel from Clare's point of view. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Murder, and Suicide

Minor: Infidelity and Hate crime

alisylvi's review against another edition

challenging dark tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicide

savleigh3's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Sexism

toffishay's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I am surprised that I waited so long to read this book; I really enjoyed it! This book explores themes of race, identity, and what we own others who we are in community with through the story of a Black woman "passing", moving through society as a white woman. Really though, the plot is about the relationship between Clare and Irene, what these two woman want out of their lives...and what they are willing to do to get it. If you like Sula by Toni Morrison (which I love) you'll like this book :) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, Classism, and Infidelity

Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Hate crime, War, and Bullying

mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny

Minor: Infidelity

aguattery's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

I had such a hard time getting into it. The plot is mostly pushed along by internal thoughts and it was kind of boring. I will say the ending  was perfect. You knew it was coming but so desperately didn't want it to happen anyway. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Infidelity and Death

Minor: Sexism

laurareads87's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective 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

5.0

Set in the 1920s, Passing is a Harlem Renaissance novel following two women, one of whom is passing as white in her everyday life having married a racist white man who doesn't know the full details of her ancestry.  The novel is a short but powerful examination of the complexities of identity, community, gender, and race.  I am grateful my book club chose it, as there is much to discuss -- the novel is ambiguous in many respects, complex, and nuanced.  I appreciated Brit Bennett's introduction, but suggest that any reader unfamiliar with the plot and seeking to avoid spoilers leave reading it until after they've finished the novel.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Sexism, and Death

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 - Look, you don't need me to tell you this classic is an excellent book. It's fantastic, full stop. It reads easily for an older book: I could not put it down.
- What I didn't realize is that it's also essentially a psychological thriller, as we watch Irene try to figure out why she's drawn to Clare, and as Clare takes ever more risks to insert herself into Irene's life.
- Also, big time queer subtext vibes in here. I'd love to see a retelling or adaptation that plays that aspect up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Suicide

Minor: Hate crime, Antisemitism, and Slavery