Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

4 reviews

celery's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Ableism, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Medical content, Animal death, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Vomit, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Rape, War, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content

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.

---

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

victoriatalksbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-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

4.0

This was an enjoyable read if you like historical fiction by authors such as Marie Benedict. The tone of the book reminded me of The Giver of Stars. There is a mystery element throughout that kept me interested but felt unnecessarily prolonged (and at times annoyed - if you need your MC to be a shrewd detective this is not for you). Definitely read the detailed author's note as it helps frame the story and answered several questions I had. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, Religious bigotry, Child death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Sexism, Death, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

bookishwithhou's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

I love historical fiction, especially when it is based around a real person’s life. In real life Martha Ballard was a midwife who caught over 1,000 babies and never lost a mother, as well as the great aunt of Clara Barton. In this novel, she is the same, but also plays a hand in helping unravel a murder and an assault on one of her neighbors. Some of these events are pulled directly from her real diary. I enjoyed the moments of everyday life in 18th century Maine, from candle making to food. 

I always love fiction about midwives—however I do feel like the author took liberties, perhaps based on her own experiences in childbirth, instead of consulting a real midwife’s view on women or their headspace during birth. (There is no mention of consulting a midwife in the authors note or acknowledgments, only childbirth practices for this time period.) Ballard’s character at one point says “in birth all women are novice” …or something to that effect. While this may be true for some, I find the birth workers and midwives I know have a bit more respect for the innate wisdom and intuition many women have when it comes to their births. Just a little something to note! 

I loved that the author’s note explained certain creative decisions that were made, and I’m excited to read A Midwife’s Tale, which chronicles Martha Ballard’s actual life.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Grief, Medical content, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Sexism