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bseigel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicide, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Incest, and Self harm
Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
hannahwinston'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: Pedophilia, Sexism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide
cerys_ah's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders
lk3ssaf's review against another edition
3.25
I didn't learn that the story was based on real crimes that took place against Mennonite women until after I had read the book.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Death of parent
cassie7e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Some may also dislike that it's narrated by a man, and that the "minutes" are more of a transcript.
I'm surprised that so many reviews disliked the religious focus of the discussions when it's clearly about Mennonite women, people in an explicitly religious colony separated from the rest of the world. Of course religious questions will be of primary concern for these women! And I did not see them as cold and inadequately outraged - they are seriously discussing actions that defy their entire social structure as a result of the atrocity they experienced, and as many trauma victims, are detaching themselves from the feelings so they can make decisions without shutting down and losing their opportunity to make a choice at all.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Self harm, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Vomit, Death, and Miscarriage
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
sydapel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
If you're looking for an really profound philosophical debate about faith, forgiveness, guilt, anger and difficult choices that women living in deeply patriarchal societies face, this excels. It's hard to digest, especially knowing it's based on reality, so please do check trigger warnings.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Excrement and Blood
reneereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape and Pedophilia
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
evanlyn'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Violence, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Pedophilia