Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

102 reviews

audra_spiven's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

Heartbreaking and important. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Classism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, and Murder

aericsson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, and Violence

surefinewhatever_'s review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

I’m still processing my thoughts & feelings regarding this book. Colson Whitehead is a master at his craft and writes such horrible scenes so beautifully. There was a moment near the end where my jaw dropped and tears filled my eyes. Not to mention that I think this novel had the best first line I’ve ever read, stating “Even in death the boys were trouble.”  Be sure to check out the long list of content warnings before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, and Violence

lkbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

kissievendor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, and Torture

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Abandonment

evanmcomer's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Murder, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Rape, and Police brutality

nappyreadjojoba's review against another edition

dark sad fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, and Violence

pphector's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Torture, and Physical abuse

ladysanctuary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

smblanc1793's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

Absolutely heartwrenching, but it’s difficult to say how much of that comes purely from the book’s subject matter and how much of it can be attributed to Whitehead himself. 

Not the best written book I’ve ever read, but certainly far from the worst. The characters are well developed for the relatively short length of the book, the plot is solid and harrowing, and the major themes threaded throughout feel, unfortunately, as relevant as ever. What pushed this book above 4 stars for me, though, was the end—a reveal I certainly didn’t see coming and a twist that, in my mind, cemented Whitehead as not just telling a good story, but as a good storyteller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Addiction, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Torture, and Violence

If I were to add all the necessary content warnings we’d be here all day. It’s about a black juvie circa-1960s. You can guess what kind of horrors go down.