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sunbathingturtle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Within the confines of a hayloft, Miriam Toews creates a deep ecosystem of life, social webs, shared history, thought, and—most importantly—characters that feel so very real.
I’m in awe of the format and storytelling of this book. Masterful craft.
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Domestic abuse, Incest, Grief, Child abuse, Alcohol, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
saara_ilona_muu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Incest
jlye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
cait's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Dementia, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
mtehan7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Slavery, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide
marahasenstaub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
isabellalinares's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Written thoughtfully & heartbreakingly
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide attempt
ptolemystoned's review against another edition
3.75
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Domestic abuse
the_beatific_bluestocking's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Snow in the spring and we're all quite grouchy. We pump our bike tires, pack away our sweaters, rejoice in the sunshine to every soul we meet, even though we know, we KNOW this happens. ❄️
What a trip to read this book while my little corner of the world erupts in a second round of seasonal affective disorder.
Women Talking is the somewhat true story of a Bolivian Mennonite community in the early 2000s. For years the women believed they were being visited by ghosts, demons, even the devil in the night or made to believe the violence they experienced in their sleep was a figment of their wild imaginations. When the truth is revealed, more than 300 cases of rape over four years, the women have 48 hours to decide what they will make of their lives in the aftermath.
This book is dialogue heavy without a single quotation mark. Toews brilliantly blurs the lines of opinion, emotion, and description with this strategy. I often forgot I was reading a fictional account and got quite involved in their debates questioning love, faith, loyalty, forgiveness, and liberation in a completely unknown world. Suddenly, shoveling snow doesn't seem so bad.
Here's the spoiler‼️
In reality, the women never left the colony, they never fought for a new way forward, today several women are attempting to recant their testimony and free the imprisoned men. I feel my whole body react to this. I shovel snow and wonder how they can be saved, do I go to Bolivia myself, do they want to be saved, they must, this is unreal, this is real, this is happening, right now.
Women Talking pulled me outside of my own protected rural bubble, to feel the sharp pain of a stranger's experience, to feel, feel, feel...to remember this is why I read and this is what really good books are made of.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Graphic: Pedophilia, Misogyny, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
chelly_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Suicide