Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

10 reviews

lanid's review against another edition

emotional funny

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Islamophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Gun violence, War, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia

noahsingh's review against another edition

2.0

reaaally don't get why people love this book, it's super Islamophobic and also why does Zadie Smith hate fat people so much.... Get a grip

Also frustrating ending with no real closure re: the marriages, the twins, etc 

soooo many things I disliked about this but saving a Nazi twice as a plot point really killed me what is this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Sexism, Slavery, Islamophobia, Fatphobia, and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, War, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Self harm, Cancer, Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Cultural appropriation

caylacolclasure's review against another edition

tense slow-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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, War, Infidelity, and Islamophobia

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The way that Zadie Smith writes people is uniquely complex and compelling. I was surprised at the depth of my hatred for these characters and then by the equal depth of my sympathy and appreciation for the same characters. (Neena was the only character who escaped without hatred from me. And niece of shame is a kickass nickname.) Their convoluted natures and equally, if not more, convicted relationships with each other were the thread that tied the whole novel together and made the ending of it feel like something more than it was—though I would’ve liked to know even more. Some of the scenes of prejudice in this book wrenched a visceral reaction from me, especially in the casualness of their presentation. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Racism, Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Islamophobia

linesiunderline's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

This book is SO MUCH. It has so much life, so many themes, characters, layers… it’s a book you need to devote yourself to, not a casual kind of reading experience. I’m glad to have finally picked it up, but I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t effortful at times.

A few words to describe Smith’s debut:

Crowded

Meandering 

Rich

Funny

Chaotic 

Epic
Intimate

Because of the sometimes chaotic feel, I didn’t feel consistently connected to the narrative and there were moments when I had to knuckle down and push on to get to the next section. Still, I was ultimately rewarded by it all.

I’ve been mixed reviews on the ending, but I thought it was outstanding.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and War

sadiemclaughlin's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

I loved how Zadie Smith would use fun and original formatting in this book to spice the otherwise slow paced story up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, and Xenophobia

rrovezzi's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, and Body shaming

hannahmcd94's review

challenging dark emotional funny slow-paced

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

4.5

It’s a slow book, and usually I wolf them down but I had to take my time with this one - which initially I thought meant it was bad but I was hooked. The level of detail and then the times where you just don’t know what character you’re going to be introduced to next and the world Zadie creates that you get sucked into. I mean, it’s a book with not much plot and you’re never really sure where it’s going but it’s brilliant the diverse range of characters she can write

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence

samalabaster's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Car accident, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, Gun violence, and Drug use

morganperks's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

I could not tell you a thing that happened in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia