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bethantg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Pedophilia and Police brutality
Minor: Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Death of parent
hbc72's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
laura_crowther's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Infertility, and Pedophilia
kayahcherie's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
heatherjchin'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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Pedophilia
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pregnancy
hanz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
agnesbebon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
kassy182's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
The main character, Geeta, is a social pariah in her village because her abusive husband left her five years prior to the start of the novel and they all think that she murdered him. She never confirms or denies this because it means people leave her alone while at the same time, buys from her jewelry business because they don't want to piss off the woman because heaven forbid she come after them! It all starts spiraling out of her control when one of the women of the village comes to her and asks her for help in killing her abusive husband. The Bandit Queen of the title references the Real Life Bandit Queen, Phoolan Devi and she is talked about repeatedly in the book for the sake of making parallels to the MC. I strongly suggest looking up her life story, it is so interesting.
As you can see, the story has a lot to do with misogyny, domestic abuse, the patriarchy that plagues a lot of areas of India. There's a lot of classism spoken on in the book as well. Parini Shroff is able to make a reader both laugh and wince at what the MC and her found family (yes, this one has a found family trope!) go through.
Okay, I know I'm praising the book but why the lower rating? Because there's some ableism and fatphobia/fat-shaming that happens that is mostly just super glossed over or played for laughs. The MC uses it to insult her best friend turned enemy turned ally again and although afterward, she apologizes for her behavior, the fat-phobic jokes/insult still keep coming well into the end of the book. I feel like the author could have done a way better job addressing those issues because even if the book focuses heavily on sexism and domestic abuse/SA, I don't think ableism or body-shaming should EVER be used as comic relief. Because of this, honestly, I cannot recommend the book, but if you decide to read it, you will learn about another culture, but keep in mind all the trigger warnings as well as topics that Shroff could have done better. I would suggest keep an Internet search bar open as well because while I'm from India and understood all the foreign words and customs, readers might not because not everything is explained fully in the book.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Police brutality