Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

50 reviews

jenhfultz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

It starts slowly but the pace picks up! LOTS of characters to keep track of; she should have a cast list in the front.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Death, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Rape, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, and Child death

Minor: Colonisation, Miscarriage, Murder, and Sexual harassment

jazzsonnet's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Child death

Moderate: Infidelity, Cursing, Ableism, Sexism, Animal death, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Child death, Gaslighting, and Death

Minor: Incest, Alcohol, and Abortion

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

This year is getting off to a great start, as this is another five-star read!  This book had so many intriguing elements of life in 1790s Maine.  The story of the midwife, her family, her community, the early justice system, and the murder mystery that opens the book makes for a compelling book— I loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, Classism, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Colonisation, Animal death, Chronic illness, Gore, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Abortion, and Sexual assault

rarasreads's review against another edition

informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

This is a historical fiction x mystery inspired by the real Martha Ballard, who was an American midwife & healer in the 1700s. Martha kept a diary of the day to day occurrences in her tight-knit Maine community. This very diary provides key evidence in a rape trial involving the Pastor’s wife. However, when one of the assailants is found frozen in the Kennebec River, Martha takes it upon herself to investigate and uncover the truth.

I felt the author covered multiple different aspects of frontier life centered on a forgotten woman in history in an engaging manner and that too, with some insightful prose.

“I will never understand why men think that women work so hard to destroy them. In my experience it is usually the opposite.” 

At a time where women are viewed as inferior to men and whose experiences are easily dismissed or designated as promiscuous, Martha becomes an outspoken advocate for them. I admired her tenacity to fight sexism and misogyny as well as to seek justice. It was also very satisfying to see the ways in which Martha handled some male characters and their fragile egos on her own. I found one of her methods pleasantly shocking (iykyk)!

Additionally, I appreciated how Lawhon contrasts Martha’s strong-willed personality with her empathetic side as she extends her generosity to many. There is also tremendous depth to the love she has for her family and husband in particular. Romance readers may particularly enjoy the small dose of 🌶️ in here as well!

Overall, there is plenty to glean from Martha’s story and I highly recommend reading author’s note at the end if you pick this one up!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

keppers_jax's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

I'm so thankful for a co-worker suggesting this book as our buddy read. It was so good and very, very difficult to pull myself away from the town of Hallowell when I had to be an adult and go to work or go to sleep. Such wonderfully written characters and a story that kept me wanting more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Child death, Rape, and Murder

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Racism, Child death, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Bullying, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual content, Grief, Excrement, Infidelity, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Abortion, Confinement, Cursing, and War

carriepond's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawson is a historical mystery/thriller inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, an eighteenth-century midwife. Set just after the founding of the United States during a particularly cold Maine winter, The Frozen River follows Martha as she investigates the murder of one of the men accused of brutally raping her friend. Martha's investigation of the murder and her search for justice soon become intertwined, putting her and her family in the crosshairs.

I thought this book sounded good, but it was even better than I imagined. I loved Martha Ballard's character, and it is even cooler knowing that she was a real midwife who took care of the women in her community and stood up for the vulnerable. The plot is so good; I could not stop turning the pages to find out how it would go. I also really enjoyed Martha's relationship with her husband, her family, and her community. 

This is a gripping mystery with a compelling, kickass main character. Highly recommend to those who like a good mystery/thriller or those who enjoy historical fiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexism

Moderate: Child death and Murder

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, Child death, Animal death, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexism, Murder, Rape, Pregnancy, and Racism

kjgould's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Rape

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Murder, and Chronic illness

Minor: Abortion and Colonisation

kluce's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

This is an incredible novel that is fiction, but based on an actual midwife and events she wrote about in her diary.  

Absolutely loved this,  though you should check content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Incest and Sexism

Most are referred to without great detail and as events that had happened in the past, though there is one scene in the final chapters of the book that more detail is given.