Reviews tagging 'Racism'

11/22/63 by Stephen King

81 reviews

choco_bunbun's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous dark informative tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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OHHH MY GODDDD IM FINALLY DONE.

This felt like it Stephen King was actively TRYING to reach a word count. If he didn't beat you over the head with motifs and filler words/sentences, this probably could've been half as long and MUCH more enjoyable. 

I think I could've really enjoyed this book, it's very well-written and researched, but this thing DRAGGED. It went on and on and on with descriptions and flash backs that took you out of the pacing in a lot of scenes. 

Tbh... at a certain point I started becoming more invested in Lee Harvey Oswald's life than the main character 💀💀💀💀

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Medical content, Car accident, War

weenydrake's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Diverse cast of characters: No

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King did an excellent job of bringing the past to life (for me, someone born in the late 90s), and his prose is very digestible. I’m a bit of a contrarian, and therefore not much of a King fan, so I was turned off a bit by the length of this book, the many detours from the main plot, and the romance that seems to be the intended heart of this novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt

Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Medical content

mj_86's review against another edition

3.0

tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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It was entirely too long. It needed a good editor. 500 pages would have been plenty. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Racism

Minor: Sexual content, Car accident, War

nikimorr's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Antisemitism

caitexcat's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Stephen King is a master of pop fiction. This 850 page book was a quick read because the story propelled me to keep reading. I did take a long break in the middle of this book though because it was just too thick to take on vacation with me- not a beach read! When I got back I struggled a little to pick up where I left off. Once I was back in the groove however, I finished the rest of the story quickly. 

At first, I thought it was going to be a three-star read. The ending is what raised the score a little. It was just so sweet. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Stalking

subtlewalrus's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Antisemitism, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racial slurs, Stalking

Minor: Cancer

mr_engineer's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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The first person narration, like he's recounting these events to us, robs the story of some of its tension but boy oh boy is the narration and setting detailed and absorbing in King's classic style. 

The story picks up when Jake starts spying on Oswald, but Jake's time in Jodie, Texas fleshes out his character. 

Unlike other popular King novels, the details of the otherworldly are slim, but those surrounding life in 1963 are fully realized.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence

Moderate: Racism, Sexism

hannahjaynej's review against another edition

1.25

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: Yes

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The first and likely the last Stephen King book I will ever read. I only finished it because it’s this month’s book club book. I am not sure if Stephen King has ever met a woman, and if he has, if he’s ever talked to one at length. You could argue that it is just the character, but I think we are supposed to like the main character, so I think it may be indicative of King’s beliefs. Either way, the time travel aspect was interesting but the second the one-dimensional love interest, Sadie, was introduced I was annoyed from there on out. The way he described women, usually on looks alone, was problematic and infuriating. And of course this straight white man enjoyed the late 50s and early 60s. Who cares about racism and sexism if they don’t affect you? Or better yet, work in your favor!! The main character has a savior complex, a virgin fantasy, and desperately wants to be told he’s right. 

Some notes I took while reading:
• Excuse me, the 16-year-olds dancing was “sexy?!” Creep.
• Sex as the cure for a headache from almost OD-ing?! You wish, Stephen. 
• Yes, I’m sure her most pressing concern after being traumatically attacked by her abusive ex-husband is how she looks in front of her current boyfriend.
• SADIE “THE VIRGIN” AS HER IDENTIFIER?? SERIOUSLY.
• Yes, because she needs a man to make her obviously very accomplished life worthwhile. 
• And I hated the frequent use of phrases like “smoothly naked” and “her formidable bosom.” 

In conclusion, I would hate to be written by Stephen King and I wish I could unread this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

skitson's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I really feel, the more I read of King’s, the more I believe he doesn’t need all of his books to be 700+ pages long. I think this book could have been 500+ instead, and his writing style is definitely not my favorite. King’s use of language and racism/sexism to tell his story is not favorable, despite him using it as just a commentary on that type of way of “thinking” (this is not necessary in my opinion, you can tell a story and comment on racism or sexism without also using that within your book).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Sexual harassment

penrodkatie's review against another edition

3.75

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, Sexism, Grief, War