Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

56 reviews

lianne_rooney's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Between 2005-2009, hundreds of women and girls in a Bolivian Mennonite colony were drugged and raped by male members of the colony. Women Talking is an imagined response to these events. The perpetrators are in jail and the majority of the remaining male members of the colony have gone to the city to seek bail for rapists. The women are expected to forgive the men for their actions on their return as this is required for entry into heaven. Over the course of a couple of days, the women gather in a barn to discuss their options - do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. They ask male teacher August - himself an outcast in the colony - to take notes of their discussions as none of the women have been taught to read.

I was absolutely engrossed in the women's discussions. Their position is terrible - if they stay not only will they be expected to forgive but they risk continued abuse. If they fight, they may lose and still be expected to forgive. Leaving is a daunting prospect since none of the women can read, write or even speak the local language. The book seems to suggest that the women getting together and talking is in itself an act of rebellion. Perhaps most surprising, given the subject matter, is the warmth and humour present. I felt it really captured the characters of the women and allowed them to be defined by more than what has been done to them. The story is ultimately a hopeful one. Despite their limited options the women still have agency.

My only minor criticisms are that at times it is a bit repetitive and there are so many characters introduced initially that at times I found it hard to keep them straight. Some of the content was very difficult to read so while I would recommend this, it's with caution to read the content warnings.

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Rape, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

aislingnic's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

savvylit's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

In Women Talking, Miriam Toews takes an absolutely brutal and horrific real event and gives voice to its victims. By setting the story after the crimes have occurred, she allows the focus to be on the women as individuals and as a collective force. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that these women are so much more than their victim status.

Having grown up Mennonite herself, Toews is able to paint a portrait of a specific faith and devotion that is unique to these conservative communities. Women Talking brilliantly weaves a collective feminist awakening into a story about deep faith in God and divine justice.

I've never read anything like this novel before and I absolutely fell in love with Toews' haunting prose. I can't wait to read more of her work!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting

theelizabethjoy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

• 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

4.0

TW: rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse 

This book was extremely difficult to read, not only because of the subject matter, or due to the fact that I have been a victim of rape and sexual abuse, but because of how it was written. 
I do think it is a story that needed to be told, that needs to be experienced. If you have been a victim, make sure you are in a decent headspace before reading this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, Physical abuse, and Medical content

Moderate: Incest, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Stalking

laschwe's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Incest and Suicide

vixenreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

A text that that gives a humanizing insight on a community that is not as closely examined as it should be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Confinement, and Alcoholism

There is a lot of information about Mennonite culture and the story adhering to the assault of the women such community. Please read at your own discretion.

msalomons's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

Very very good quality writing, Miriam Toews manages to build an incredibly complex story around a very simple setting. There were parts I didn’t like and probably would have been a stronger story in my opinion if August’s role was a woman but I get the intention behind it and think it was overall successful, a good short read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

crosberg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is the best book I've read this year (so far).  I'm glad I went in knowing the basic plot, because it definitely deserves a bunch of content warnings and isn't for the faint of heart.  But both the writing itself and the structure, how the story was told, were absolutely masterful.  The perspective choices, the character backgrounds, the jokes and small details, every single choice that Toews made elevates it to the absolute height of what the book is capable of.  The pacing is perfect, tight without being unforgiving.  When I finished reading it I had to lay down on the floor and stare at the ceiling for a while so I could process.  An absolute masterpiece.  But please please do pay attention to the content warnings, this book speaks about some of the most difficult subjects I've ever read about in a book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexism, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual content

nkk1017's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

anger566's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Abandonment and Pedophilia

Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Death