Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

94 reviews

kyahs's review

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

A beautiful story of Black love, loss, family and generational trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Police brutality, Gun violence, Child death, War, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Racism, and Rape

my_a's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Abandonment, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, War, Alcohol, Death, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Child abuse and Rape

Minor: Antisemitism

katiehorsburgh's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Exceptional. A powerful, meandering tale of the interweaving lives of generations of Black women. It explores sisterhood, motherhood, magic, healing & complexity when men you love are violent. I cried. You will too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Murder, and Death

kayfab's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Bullying, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Classism, Child abuse, and Rape

bookishdaydreaming's review

3.5

I really loved the way this book was written, and I thought the female-centric story across generations was beautiful to read, but I wish I'd read the trigger warnings before because it was quite harrowing and almost made me put the book down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

line_magnus's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

 A rich and colorful family drama about three generation of Black women in the American South. I really liked both the writing and the characters, but the many time jumps could be a bit jarring and confusing. On the whole an interesting and compelling read that I would recommend. 
TW though for CSA of a very young child. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Racism

wossyboy's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

I'm mainly just mad that the cover made me think this was a light-hearted holiday read instead of the contemporary classic that it is. Whoever did the cover design should hand in their notice.

At first I struggled with the narration - a very adult contemporary voice that felt the same across all characters, regardless of their age or timeframe. But once I moved past that, the story itself unravels in a way most beautiful and devastating. It lives up to the Toni Morrison quote perfectly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Rape

crystalcason's review

challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Rape

lhodgson26's review

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

This was an interesting book as it was set across different times told from different perspectives of strong female characters. I liked Hazels story how she fell in love with Myron and were child hood sweethearts but was then too cruely taken away. Miram and her absuive relationship with Jax was difficult to read at some points but she was so brave to escape and start a new life for herself and her family. August was powerful to read by how a mothers love sometimes isn't enough and Joan was good trying to follow her passion. However the whole Derek and Joan story was very uncomfortable and hard to read when he raped her and the fact she lived in the same house with her for many years was absurd. I wanted more from the book like what happened to Jax after he left and did Joan manage to get into the art school in London. I also wanted more from Miss Dawn's story and for August to have a happy ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Child abuse, and Racism

your_true_shelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

What a book! This book is so special.  I was there, with the characters, feeling their emotions, smiling with them, smelling the food, feeling their love.  And I cried several times.  Absolutely in my top 3 of the year, if not in 1st place. I loved this book! I will read anything Tara Stringfellow writes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, Murder, Child abuse, and Rape