Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

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

16 reviews

nad_books623's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This story is something that a lot of Black families can connect with. The story reminds me of my grandfathers childhood and possibly what some of my distant relatives experienced. There were moments that it was difficult for me to read but the story was well written and too compelling. I had to give it a day, but this book is staying with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, and Racism

Minor: Racial slurs, Child death, Infidelity, and Slavery

nyssa24's review against another edition

emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence

hamstringy's review

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.5

This book made me cry a little bit! Black writes a book that is compulsively readable for all its main character is precisely the type of person I would not want to meet in real life. He has a knack for fleshing out difficult characters and the relationships they form. 
I do agree with some reviews I read that his growth at times can feel a little too straightforward, but I also don’t think it really pulled me out of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Bullying, Terminal illness, and Misogyny

coffeewithcammie's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.0

This one was very readable. Very easy to get thru. But seemed pretty repetitive at time. Also informative tho. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Violence, Sexual violence, and Racism

ashleycmms's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Suicide, Child death, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Gun violence and Murder

This book is amazing, heartbreaking, and honest. The pain and reality that Daniel taps into is so deep and vibrant you know that he’s lived and overcome just like others have, just like his characters have, just like others will in the future. B E A U T I F U L writing. I annotated so many beautiful lines along the moments where I hurt so hard for everyone, what the lost, what they could have had, and the loneliness they felt. I knew this book was a 5 star read when I cried during the authors note in the beginning, but the letters (and the 20 minutes of crying post reading this novel) solidified it. Black is an auto-buy author now. But I will not read anything else from him until I emotionally recover from this one.

thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Receiving something like this from your dead parent would honestly be a gift. Told in letters written to his son, Jacob asks Isaac for amends after he failed as a father and ostracized his son for being gay. The letters read like a memoir, so I often forgot I was reading a piece of fiction. Don’t Cry for Me was very educational in that it explored both generational and racial differences. There are so many stories about the past that we forget to ask our loved ones while they are alive. Once they are gone, the questions seem to flow more freely. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, and I think the book would have been better if it included Isaac’s reactions to the letters. Overall, a strongly worded novel.

If you liked this book, check out Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Death of parent, Child abuse, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Child death and Alcoholism

Minor: Blood, Slavery, and Suicide

bookbuyingwithkatie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Racism

afroheaux's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was an incredibly emotional read. Take care while reading. It dives deep into the roots of abuse and it’s cyclical nature. The author does a great job of making you feel empathy for the character without making you feel like he’s absolved of his misdeeds. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Racism, and Domestic abuse

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