Reviews tagging 'Racism'

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

6 reviews

lorraine19's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

1.0

I was expecting a chaotic, gritty, realistic view of school shooting. I was thoroughly disappointed. Instead, this reads like an overly scripted Hollywood movie. There's so many long dialogues and every character just had to have some dramatic heroic moment even if it made no sense. The type of characters didn't really match the setting. 

I don't like telling spoilers in reviews but I feel like I need to provide examples of scenes to express how unrealistic it was written....

(SPOILERS) The shooter comes in and an auditorium of a hundred students just goes completely silent. When the doors open, not a single person panics or makes a run for it. Everything is controlled and there is little chaos. Police officers find students a couple blocks from the school and BRING THEM BACK. Like what?! (SPOILERS)

Reading the author's note, they state they grew up in a different country and we're unfamiliar with school shootings. They wrote the book in order to "learn about it". Clearly they should've done more research. Insulting to anyone that's been in proximity to violence like this and does not provide a realistic or fair view of school shootings at all. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Blood, Cursing, Gun violence, Death, Gaslighting, Child death, Hate crime, Violence, Gore, and Confinement

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racism, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Dementia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

ellebelle90's review

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Bullying, Suicide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and Racism

kays_reading_journal's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.75

I read this in one sitting, in 3 hours. And I cried. A lot. Many reviews say that the multiple povs were too rushed, but I think that was the point, and that it made the book better. Even within the shortness of the book, I was still able to fall in love with who the characters were and I felt for every single loss. 
Some others also hated that the author included romance, but it makes perfect sense. When you and you’re loved ones are threatened, it brings you together, and you want to be able to fall back on someone you love, you need to be comforted, and the author showed that amazingly. If you’re sure this book won’t trigger you, then I would definitely read it, especially in light of the horror this year has already brought in America. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Rape and Racism

melplays9000's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

This book was absolutely everything and it broke me. The tension is maintained so well all the way through and then at the end the emotion finally catches up and it’s heartbreaking. All the characters feel so intricate and real, the was they respond to the situation and their connections to it was crafted so well. The 4 perspectives from which we see this story are all connected to each other as well as to the situation and she shooter. It is clear that all these perspectives were chosen for a reason and although we may not see the situation from all angles we see it through those to whom it has the biggest impact. I loved the way this subject matter was handled and reading this made me more aware of this horrifying reality that some people have to face. 5 Stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Murder, Violence, Child death, Death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Grief, Homophobia, and Rape

Minor: Blood and Racism

sassyshark's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Grief, Medical content, Racism, and Religious bigotry

mini4b's review against another edition

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Mass/school shootings, Suicide, and Gun violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Racism and Ableism