Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Donne che parlano by Miriam Toews, Maurizia Balmelli

203 reviews

micasreads's review against another edition

3.0

 Between 2005 and 2009, over 130 women of a small Mennonite community in Bolivia were sprayed with belladonna to incapacitate them and then repeatedly raped. The youngest victim was only three years old. Then men were turned over to the authorities in order to save them from a victim who threatened them with a scythe. Now that the men are being bailed out, the women gather to discuss their next move: leave their community, fight the other men in the community to keep the attackers away, or forgive their rapists.

 

This book made my blood boil for all of the expected reasons and possibly one surprising reason. This is the fictionalization of an actual event as told by someone formerly of a Mennonite community. The women hold conversations in a barn to come to a consensus on whether or not to leave their small community for their own safety and that of their children. 

 

The aspect of this book that aggravates me is that the author relies on a male narrator (the character within the story) to tell the women's story. This novel would have been stronger if we had been able to listen to the survivors make their decision instead of having "the minute keeper" offer his interpretation of what was being said. The women were extremely strong characters and having their story told through a male view was extremely off-putting 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

evanlyn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

bookforthought's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

A poignant, reflective and profoundly inspiring read on the patriarchy and the power of resistance, community and love. For such a short book, it takes its time but is definitely worth it to spend as much time as possible with this memorable cast of characters. The audiobook narrator was fantastic, well worth listening to!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

spookysierra's review against another edition

I hated that a tragedy that happened to a group of women was framed from the perspective of a man who couldn't stop daydreaming over his affection of one of the women. I just felt like the inner turmoil of this man really took away from the struggle the women were going through.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

thehistoriette's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

jdesimoney's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

daisywilkes's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Abandonment

hinkleh's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism and Incest

sarahholliday's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

In Women Talking, Miriam Toews has achieved some sort of alchemy. 

The subject matter is dark and horrifying, yet the pages are filled with humor, tenderness, and resilience. It is a book about women, but we read all of their thoughts and words through the transcription of a man. By most standards, very little happens "on the page"—we spend two days in a hay loft with a group of women deciding whether they will stay in or leave their cloistered community. And yet, we get such an expansive look at their daily lives, their culture, and their personalities. 

I read 135 pages in one sitting because the story drew me in immediately, and the simple, straightforward way August transcribes the meetings combined with his philosophical musings made the reading experience both quick and engaging. 

If you can handle the heavy subject matter, I couldn't recommend this book enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

vaguelyacademic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Suicide attempt