Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

19 reviews

justmys's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Racism, Rape, Vomit, Death, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Violence, Classism, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Murder, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Child death, and Death of parent

Minor: Excrement, Incest, Fatphobia, and Animal death

kimby666's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I learned about the Packhorse Librarians through this book. It is overall a sad read with the level of poverty and racism that was present during this time, in that area. It was well written and was very easy to follow. It moved at a good pace, and did a good job with descriptions of the setting and characters. Overall, an interesting read.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Blood, Classism, Child death, Hate crime, Death, and Sexism

sarahflanders's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicide, Child death, Vomit, Cursing, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Rape, and Violence

jilliri's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It absolutely blew my mind this is based on a true story. The minute I finished I found myself immediately researching the blue people of Kentucky and Packhorse women during the Great Depression. I found this book both captivating and heart wrenching. Showing the horrors of racism, discrimination, poverty and the evils of man. But more than that, the author beautiful contrasted it with the strength, perseverance, acceptance, and love as shown through Cussy Mary’s story. This girl is strong in so many ways. She deserved all the happiness and love that the author ended the book on. It made me excited for the next chapter of her life, where ever that might take her.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Blood

kyrstin_p1989's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I usually love historical fiction but this one took so long to get going that I struggled a lot at first. It didn’t really take off for me until about 100 pages in which is nearly halfway, and that’s why I didn’t rate it higher. The second half of the book kept me reading and I didn’t want to put it down. The historical aspects of the KY Pack Horse program and the blue people of Kentucky were fascinating as a native Kentuckian, especially because I had never heard of the former prior to reading this book. The story is sad and tells of the hardships of rural, Appalachian life in the 1930’s and 40’s with candor and grace. It definitely makes you appreciate the technological, medical, and social advancements we’ve made and just how hardy a people the folks from mining country truly are. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Stalking, Sexual violence, Abortion, Addiction, Body horror, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Grief, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide

sarayadawn17's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a book that will stick with me. The writing is beautiful and reflective, I had to pause many times to process things and think about what the author said. I found myself researching different aspects of the book to learn more. It was extremely emotional as well and heartbreaking. I love how the book shed light on the importance of reading and education, but also tackled numerous difficult subjects of racism, sexual assault, and starvation. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Hate crime, Suicide, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Child death, and Blood

Minor: Abortion

mels_reading_log's review

dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

4.5

This story takes place in the mountains of Kentucky in 1936 and follows the life of a Pack Horse Librarian who takes books to those without access. She is also one of the historic blue people of Kentucky, so she deals with all of the disrespect and ignorance that goes along with 1930’s racist southern small town life. She values reading and education and knows that it is important for her patrons, especially the children, to be able to make a better life for themselves. As a former school social worker and someone who grew up in a small town in the south, I related to so much about her mission to help those in need and care and love on those you encounter. I’m about to start the sequel right now!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Classism, Death, and Stalking

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide

pastlifetragedy's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, Blood, Abortion, Rape, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Violence, Death, Ableism, Classism, Death of parent, and Hate crime

atringas's review

adventurous emotional inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a fascinating and in depth exploration of a time and place in history often not spoken of. Although the main character Cussy is a creation of the author, the environment she exists in, as well as her condition and her job, did all absolutely exist. The novel is woven delicately and beautifully to convey the harsh reality and beautiful poetry of life in these rural communities at this point in time, without shying from the challenge and harshness of the same. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Abandonment, Child death, Blood, Bullying, Medical content, Rape, Ableism, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Grief, Chronic illness, Hate crime, Suicide, Incest, Police brutality, Racism, and Stalking

jharman44's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Incest, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Police brutality, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, Bullying, Racial slurs, Rape, Stalking, Suicide, and Adult/minor relationship