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ruthiethetoothie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
vampiretree's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Infertility, Grief, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Child death, Car accident, and Animal death
amressing's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Misogyny, and Blood
diana_blackmoon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Racism
stubbornlybookish's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Rape, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Racism, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Homophobia, and Infertility
chloeschapters's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Dark, heart-wrenching, and with no lack of trigger warnings, Difficult Women is tough to get to but worthwhile. As always, some stories will resonate more than others, but DAMN IT can Roxane Gay WRITE. I think I maybe need to re-evaluate my approach to reading/engaging with short story collections (maybe they don't all need to come together in the end??? idk).
Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Miscarriage
willowbrii'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Stories that stuck out to me:
- La Negra Blanca
- Baby Arm
- North Country
- Requiem for a Glass Heart
- Bone Density
- I Am a Knife
- We Are All So Happy Now
- Glass
Heavy content warnings for this collection.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
balladofreadingqueer's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
The stories centre around women, who are viewed as difficult by partners, parents, children or society. Often these women are shown not to be reacting to things that have happened in their lives not ‘unnecessarily difficult’.
Many of the stories address themes of sexual and physical abuse and the subsequent impact of that this abuse. Other themes are acceptance, the mundane/everyday and uncertainty.
Some of the stories are difficult to read and have unlikable main characters who you wish would make better choices but this adds to the enjoyment of the stories for me.
Some of my favourite stories were The Sacrifice of Darkness, La Negra Blanca and Glass.
4.5* would recommend
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual violence
booksandcoffeerequired's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Violence
copperboom's review
Graphic: Sexual violence, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse