Reviews tagging 'Racism'

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

8 reviews

cameronaverwhy's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I can absolutely see why this book is a classic of the horror-sci-fi genre. Short and sweet, for me it was a brilliant balance between action and observation. A main criticism of mine that I have is simply the protagonist’s comments about women and sex felt unnecessary, but I suppose he’s meant to be a flawed character, so won’t always behave in a way that I would agree with. Overall, a brilliant novella.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Rape

refrejarator's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

The science still holds up at some points which is pretty cool. Interesting take on vampires, but uncomfortably dated (views of the 50s in regards to women and POCs).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Blood

Moderate: Grief, Violence, Cannibalism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Vomit, Animal death, Gun violence, and Medical content

POCs referred to as 'Negroes' and not named, only occurs in one chapter. Followers of Islam are referred to as Mohammedans. Jews and Judaism are also mentioned, but no derogatory comments made. Main character is tempted to SA/rape women, including comatose/sleeping/undead women. This is mentioned several times.

amothers's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Some of the short stories were racist but i am legend itself was great

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Sexual harassment

bearystarry's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

I didn't realize this was half I Am Legend and half short stories when I bought it. I Am Legend was way too bleak for me. Some of the short stories had really interesting premises but weak execution, or I would have liked to be expanded. My favourite part of the whole book was The Funeral;

just a fun little monster story!

I thought it was cute, tbh.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Genocide, Animal death, Grief, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Blood, Terminal illness, Sexism, Racism, Addiction, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Violence, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Torture, and Car accident

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, and Fatphobia

ladybanecourt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging sad 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? Yes

3.5

✨3.5/5✨
Still a solid way to start the year with my first book. The writing was good, I think it was mostly because of the pacing that I had issues about it because I think most of the story came about halfway. Still solid though, and a good and defining classic in the vampiric genre.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Racism and Sexual assault

sofipitch's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

2.5

This was so incredibly tropy, the man manly man who is all alone, he's tough and smart, he has a fridged wife and daughter, he is tormented by sexual desire for the female vampires bc he doesn't know how to jack off, he'll do anything to survive but contemplates suicide constantly. Either this bad already been done before a million times or this laid the groundwork for a certain kind of "tough good guy" character. The only part I really liked was the dog. I also give this book credit for an attempted scientific explanation for vampires, it sucked and would never hold up, but I appreciate when science fiction actually does the science part

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Animal death

Minor: Racism and Misogyny

dora_w3's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

2.25

I'm glad I read this book, but I disliked most things about it: the prose was masculine and miserable, the pacing was slow, yet the few events that actually occur were sudden and short, Robert Neville was not a particularly likeable or interesting character, and the 50's attitude to people of colour and women was evident despite the narrative almost entirely following a white man. There were some enjoyable parts but they were few and far between, and there are many more points where Matheson thinks he is being clever and deep, compared to the amount of times when he actually succeeds. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Rape and Racism

nonfictionfeminist's review against another edition

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Racism