Reviews tagging Violence

Memphis, by Tara M. Stringfellow

13 reviews

dalitmamas's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense 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

3.5

Mkay mkay so my thoughts on this book/story… story wise, I think the story is a good story, it’s multi-generational, multi pov, talks about grief and maneuvering thru that space of familial taboo almost. I surprisingly did appreciate the multiple timelines that we got and seeing the world thru multiple characters at their different times and also incorporating US history throughout, I really enjoyed those moments.

The execution though..not my favorite. I will say if you struggle with constant timeline hopping, you might struggle with this. There were many times I was like mkay which character is this and what year are we in, and the chapters aren’t super long so it was hard to keep up with where we were in history. I think the ending was pretty good but at the same time it just kind of ends like I think we were in the up n up of something and then it just ends. 

I think this is a decent read but nothing super standout-ish for me.

TW: rape, racism, violence, abuse within the family

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

e_tully4's review

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Minor: Sexual assault

bookichor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

Beautifully written but I kept seeing it described as a celebration of Black joy, when really it's family saga and generational trauma. I understood some characters motivations but I still struggled to accept them.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Violence, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Rape

vchetty's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Rape

smallsurvivor's review

challenging emotional 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? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

msennflinn's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, Death of parent, Death, Grief, War, and Hate crime

devynhinds's review

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, War, Gun violence, and Drug abuse

tiasreads's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Violence, Rape, and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Death, and Grief

Minor: Islamophobia

Additional content warning:

Spoiler

brief, but graphic description of events of September 11, 2001

midnightverde's review

emotional medium-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? No

5.0

A multigenerational masterpiece that spans decades. The trauma revealed early on nearly broke me, it was very difficult to read, but I continued, knowing all too well that horrific abuse happens to so many. I loved the perseverance of each and every North woman and all the supporting characters who were loving members of the Memphis community. And as a person raised in the south, reading the colloquial terms “all y’all” and “your daddy and ‘em” brought me back. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Violence, Abandonment, and Grief

Minor: Addiction

leahrosiee's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Rape, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting