Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Don't Cry for Me: A Novel by Daniel Black

16 reviews

sup3r_xn0va_maya's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

update: 1 hour later

I had book club and discussed this book with some really cool friends. After talking it out I can see where the author was going with this book. I think my take away is that we should give Black men grace and understand when it comes to the ways they show up in our lives. Some of them might not know the "typical" ways to show love so they show love in the only ways they know.

I'm giving this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

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This book is ultimately about generational trauma and Black boy and manhood.
The main character wasn't likeable at all and I didn't like how terrible the main character was. With each confession I just became more and more irritated with the book and him. He was somewhat a grey area character, but to me he was just an unlikeable asshole. 

He often complained that he wanted his child to "be a man" and be confident and have strength but every chance the main character has at reaching out to his child to reconcile their relationship, he shys away. So now he's the meek one? Yeah, I don't like that hypocrisy, with as much grief as he gave his son for not acting like "a man", he could have stood up and "been a man" when it came to connecting with his son. 

I felt sorry for his family because they had to deal with him. I understand that he is trying to learn and do better as a person, he's so unlikeable that I don't care if he's trying to become a better person. I'm trying to be understanding to his character but it's hard for me.

My friends felt more sympathy than I did for the main character and maybe you will too.

I'm giving this a 3 out of 5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Outing, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

themillennialjareads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, Death, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Sexism

drwozniak's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia

dariam's review

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape

random19379's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Grief, and Cancer

Moderate: Hate crime, Slavery, Rape, Bullying, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide

lea's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Racism, Terminal illness, Rape, Cancer, Homophobia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Alcoholism and Slavery

hanreadin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Cancer, and Abortion

treberry's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

“It’s funny what you remember in old age. Memories reveal who you used to be, what you once thought important, what regrets you cannot shake.”

⠀

DCFM is an emotional, reflective story told through a series of letters wrote from a dying man to his estranged son. Dying alone, Jacob uses all of his strength to express his story, his history, his regrets, his shame to give his son insight into the reasons behind his actions.

⠀

This book both captured my heart and broke my heart at the same time! There was so much relatable, in-your-face honesty.

⠀

The emphasis on regret, loss, pride and hurt gnawed at my soul. But as somber as it was, it was everything I needed. The biggest takeaway I found was making amends, living with regret, how our words and actions, spoken and unspoken, effects our relationships with others.

⠀

My heart ached for Isaac and the turmoil he must’ve endured. My heart bled for Jacob and his foolish pride - for putting conditions on his love. He had so many shoulda, woulda, couldas, but was much too prideful to act on his true feelings because it wasn’t the “manly” thing to do.

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I was triggered early on and felt I just wouldn’t be able to continue reading, but I picked this book right back up and didn’t put it down again until I was done. I was stuck reading for hours & hours!

⠀

It would’ve been interesting to see

how the letters were received, but that’s what happens when apologies come a day late and a dollar short … you never know.

⠀

Reading this book made me see how necessary it is to give our children freedom to make their own choices. It allowed me to give grace to my parents for the things I wished they’d done differently when raising me. They did what they knew, the best they could.

⠀

I doubt you can finish this book without having your principles shaken and stirred,  and reflecting on relationships, choices, hopes, and expectations. It shows how the bonds we cultivate are truly matters in life.

⠀

The writing was excellent, flowed as smooth as honey, and consumed my full attention. I’d place this book smack dab in the middle of The Kite Runner and Razorblade Tears. I can already predict this to be one of my top 3 reads this year! 👏🏾

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Death, and Child abuse

_clawx's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, and Sexual assault

edensbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Abortion, Ableism, Sexism, and Death of parent