Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Passing by Nella Larsen

32 reviews

ankbert's review against another edition

reflective 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

3.0

I didn't get very engaged in the story in the story but I still found it interesting and reflective.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Murder and Death

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

rieviolet's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense 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? Yes

4.0

This novella packs a lot into a little more than one hundred pages. 

In the foreground there's race and the concept of passing, with all of its moral implications. I think the theme is explored really well, and through the different characters we can observe all of its nuances. 

The author is also good at delving deep into the main character's psychology. The relationship between Irene and Clare is fraught with conflicting emotions, and it is build upon in a very clever way until the shocking breaking point.

I really appreciated the themes and the prose, but I wasn't completely swept away by the story, hence the 4-star rating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Misogyny

Minor: Infidelity, Child abuse, Antisemitism, Murder, Suicide, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, and Classism

minkkmuse's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

 audiobook reread. 

what is race? what is reality? the intoxicating mix of danger and desire. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Murder

scarroll178's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

So well crafted. Only complaint is that

I wish it had been longer because I wanted to see the ramifications of Clare’s death on Irene’s life and her marriage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism

clararemon's review

challenging dark emotional tense 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: Racial slurs

Moderate: Murder and Infidelity

faith99's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity

ohgull's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This book was like a race focused version of the Great Gatsby. It has a lot of the ideas of that book and is set around the same time. I liked the psychological elements of the book, but the characters got on my nerves a bit. I loved the ending, it was so crazy and shocking! All together kinda eh, but still overall ok.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Outing, and Racism

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Suicide

Minor: Murder

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

A unique and fascinating classic novel. It's easy to get sucked into Irene and Clare's world of secrets. You really feel for the two women, even when they are hard to like or love.

For what it's worth, the movie follows the book to a tee!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, Classism, Death, Grief, and Murder

heather_freshparchment's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Murder, Suicide, and Infidelity