Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

43 reviews

jjjjo's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Ableism, Bullying, Addiction, Child abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Drug use, Classism, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

freckled_frog_boi's review against another edition

reflective

Definitely a book to read twice (if only to switch who's who)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism and Abandonment

strrygo's review against another edition

reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

aishallnot's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective

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

"Two little girls who knew what nobody else in the world knew—how not to ask questions. How to believe what had to be believed. There was politeness in that reluctance and generosity as well. Is your mother sick too? No, she dances all night. Oh—and an understanding nod."

This was my first toni morrison read finishing from cover to cover and I gotta say this was a pretty decent read. I didn't mind that this was short but this is a book with some questions I have but also an understanding of the themes in this story and how we see identity. I kinda have my theory on which person is what race but I think with "what the hell happened to maggie" line just adds many layers to this among other things.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Death

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Homophobia

mx_sunshine's review against another edition

reflective medium-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

4.0

This was very interesting. I’ll definitely be reading more from Toni Morrison. I love her writing style.
My favourite part was about the signs. Very tense. I’ve never read such an open ended story.
Zadie Smith’s introduction was very insightful but it unfortunately shaped my thoughts on the story before I had a chance to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Racism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Homophobia, Drug use, and Death of parent

orangeoverload'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a tale of race, memory and friendship. But the twist? Which woman is black and which woman is white. 
At points, I thought that I had it figured out; only for their races to switch after a certain piece of dialogue. And what are these decisions to switch based on. Facts? Stereotypes? My own biases and what I think to be back and white? It was fascinating.
Zadie Smiths introduction was a great read too, though I would read it after reading the main story, and it spoils it massively.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, Bullying, and Ableism

gertrudski's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Racism and Classism

akane_readsyt's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Bullying, and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment and Homophobia

Minor: Cursing, Sexism, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Misogyny

hauntedvamphotel's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Once again brilliant storytelling from Morrison! One girl is White and the other is Black but you’re never told which one is which. You can’t help but try and guess who is White and who is Black, which is a clever way of being confronted with the stereotypes you have about race. As Zadie Smith noted in the introduction, society has structured our belief in needing categorization so even as I went into the story thinking I wouldn’t try to guess, I couldn’t help but attempt and try to categorize Roberta and Twyla. Maybe that’s the point of Morrison’s story; to make the reader confront and question their unconscious bias.

It’s a short book making it a quick read, especially as I was engaged the whole time. Very thought provoking and interesting story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Ableism

Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, and Bullying

Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Physical abuse