Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

8 reviews

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

This is about generational trauma and each chapter reads as a short story. I struggled with this one, as it was incredibly slow to get through in some perspectives. However, I have enjoyed enough of Louise's other work. I still don't know that I'd really recommend this one though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Death, Rape, Racism, Miscarriage, and Grief

illtakethenightshiftx's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

Is Louise Erdrich turning into one of my favorite authors? Yes!!! Love Medicine tells the story of a large, complicated family in short vignettes which, when stitched together, create a gorgeous tapestry of a story. The novel explores some very heavy themes and events, but has moments of unexpected humor and lightness. 

Love Medicine isn’t as polished as some of her other works, but the characters are strong and stay with you. 

I read the revised edition (which I didn’t realize when I borrowed it from the library) and I’d love to read the original edition to see how different the story flows!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism

internationalreads's review

dark emotional informative reflective fast-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? Yes

5.0

10/10 no notes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Genocide, Sexual content, Suicide, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Car accident, Child death, Classism, and Colonisation

cleome37i's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, Colonisation, and Death

bisexualwentworth's review against another edition

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

The character work and relationships in this book are stunning. I had trouble following all of the different dynamics at play, but I think that’s just cause I was reading too quickly.

Was it really necessary to use the n-word in that one passage? Cause yikes.

Definitely glad to have finally read something by Louise Erdrich, and I will be checking out more of her work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Death

Moderate: Murder, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Racism, and Racial slurs

christalbotheindl's review against another edition

reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

pi_a_la_mode's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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? Yes

4.25

Slow start, but Erdrich’s beautiful prose pulls the reader in and once enevloped in the embrace of her story, all its beauty unfolds in page after page.  

Erdrich follows the Kashpaws and Lamartines through three generations.  The timeline was sometimes difficult to follow as memories unfolded outside the designated year titling each chapter, and the cast of characters is extensive (thankfully a family tree helps with keeping track of everyone and their connections). 

Told in vignettes that could each be stand alone stories, the total sum of the families’ stories creates a rich portrait. Complex and moving, each and every emotion leaping off the page in its turn.  Each of these characters will tug at your heartstrings, some will break them.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Racism

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, and Violence