Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

87 reviews

juliana18's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence

millbot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual violence

drossg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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

It is a hard read, but it’s a good read. It is fast-paced, and the structure helps divide things up. I like how the author did not try to sell the railroad, it is just a matter of fact. The book is fair and clear-eyed. The author’s style is criticized as overly “clinical” but I think it lends to what he’s doing here - he’s not sensationalizing chattel slavery or it’s effects. Just as the fact of the literal railroad he’s simply describing things as they are. I’ve heard of authors described as society’s physicians, and I could advocate a similar description for this book as well. It is difficult to rate “important” books, but it’s worth reading and I did enjoy it. So, 5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Medical trauma

rouxlore's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder

sarahbiegelsen's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

Minor: Body horror, Misogyny, and Medical content

jckurtz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery

jocelynbold's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

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

racquesta's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Slavery

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

emmareeser's review against another edition

challenging hopeful tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence

cassielaj's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

Wow… this book is incredible. Devastating from the start and unrelenting in its harrowing depiction of Cora’s life of enslavement on a plantation and subsequent escape, The Underground Railroad manages to tell so many stories of America’s violent and insidious history while still including moments of perseverance, hope, and kindness. It’s a challenging, heart-breaking read, but the story is expertly crafted and thought-provoking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail