Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Donne che parlano by Maurizia Balmelli, Miriam Toews

68 reviews

aislingnic's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

savvylit's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

In Women Talking, Miriam Toews takes an absolutely brutal and horrific real event and gives voice to its victims. By setting the story after the crimes have occurred, she allows the focus to be on the women as individuals and as a collective force. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that these women are so much more than their victim status.

Having grown up Mennonite herself, Toews is able to paint a portrait of a specific faith and devotion that is unique to these conservative communities. Women Talking brilliantly weaves a collective feminist awakening into a story about deep faith in God and divine justice.

I've never read anything like this novel before and I absolutely fell in love with Toews' haunting prose. I can't wait to read more of her work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting

laschwe's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Incest and Suicide

battybookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I struggled with this book until I switched to the audiobook format. I will say, the narration and choice of the main character still bothered me. My wish was that it was told in a first-person style directly from the women but there are elements towards the end that make sense for why it isn't told in such a way. Still, this is my main reason for scoring it lower. 

Otherwise, this book was an interesting meditation and tied well with my recent watch of The Wonder (2022) with Florence Pugh. It is a lovely telling of a horrifying truth with plenty of empathy and thought put into the women represented. Finding out the author has her own history with the Mennonite faith placed the story for me a bit. It's not a great novel that arrives at any full conclusion or plot finish, but it does meditate on ideas of faith and power. I don't know how or when I'd recommend this book to anyone, I am glad I read it though, and am enjoying the process of audiobook experimentation it is continuing me on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

This book centers around the discussion of multiple real-life assaults and rapes. These rapes are deeply traumatic and disturbing in nature and are discussed in occurrences of many ages that may disturb people. There is also in-depth mention of physical abuse and the drugging procedure that is done.

vixenreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

A text that that gives a humanizing insight on a community that is not as closely examined as it should be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Alcoholism

There is a lot of information about Mennonite culture and the story adhering to the assault of the women such community. Please read at your own discretion.

gabberjaws's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

 

“No, Ernie, says Agata, there’s no plot, we’re only women talking.”

I think my biggest problem is that I still can’t articulate what I expected from this book.

This is loosely based on a truly horrific real life acts that took place in a Mennonite community from 2005-2009, and the book sells itself on that. So I went into this expecting something revolutionary and poignant.

The women talking was, in and of itself revolutionary, true. And watching them hold on to their faith while coming to terms with the horrible things that had happened to them was impactful. But like I said, the book sells itself on the real life events, and I think I wanted more from this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, and Suicide

minisaucisse's review against another edition

dark funny informative inspiring reflective medium-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

Very good read, but somehow not much to chew afterwards. Am I reading to fast ?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Child abuse, Blood, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, Violence, Self harm, Suicide, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism

Description are on the effect on the person, not the act itself.

beccabookworm's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicide

mariacandet's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

"Women Talking is both a reaction through fiction to these true-life events, and an act of female imagination."

If you're interested in Women Talking, then you probably know that these true-life events refer to the repeated drugging and rape of more than a hundred women and girls in a Mennonite colony in Bolivia between 2005 and 2009. Women Talking is not a fictionalized version of these events (which I believe would've been deeply unethical), but as Miriam Toews explains, a "reaction through fiction"—a philosophical, theological, and feminist exploration of these events. It is also an act of empathy and feminist imaginary, a reflection on the realities of women and their future possibilities. It is also only women talking.

It is important to remember that our rights as women are recent and fragile, not universal, not guaranteed, not perpetual. It is important to remember that women have fought and are fighting continuously for these rights. It is important to remember that our purpose and end goal is liberation from patriarchy and all of its tools of oppression. It is important to remember that only women talking can be a revolutionary, transgressive act.

With this in mind, I can understand why some find it odd, or even off-putting, that this book is narrated by a man, but it is such a specifically important decision, and August Epp is necessary for the existence of this book. Because without August Epp, this book would essentially not exist. He serves as a reminder that the right to read and write is a privilege that not all women have. The act of writing down the minutes of the meeting is a reminder of the importance of historical records and how oppressed peoples can rarely keep them. He exists as a reminder that it is a privilege to witness this discussion—we have no right to listen to these women, to judge them, to understand them, unless they invite us to (which they do by asking and allowing August Epp to take the minutes). He serves as another example of patriarchal oppression (which I am less interested in), but also to show the futility and lie of male saviors. But to me, the most interesting aspect of August's vital role comes through the revelation at the end regarding the real reason why he was asked to take the minutes of the meeting—without spoiling it, I just want to say that it is perhaps the first action that these women take that truly reflects the future they decide to build for themselves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide and Domestic abuse

farmchick's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Animal death, and Rape