Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

35 reviews

sandysmith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

There were parts of this book I loved, the historical story of plantation life and the darkness of plantation owners and the treatment of their slaves. Beautiful and hauntingly written. Hiram is the central character, and his mother is sold when he was nine. He is also the son of the plantation owner, but a slave never the less. Where it falls away for me is the introduction of conduction, a magical fantasy element that is where I feel the story fell short.  That aside, it is a magical, lyrical, brutal story of oppression, separation, and resistance. It's a devastating but joyful read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Violence

mnatale100's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Slavery, Grief, Abandonment, Confinement, Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Racism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Violence, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Child death, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Infidelity

nehaanna's review

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.75

The writing is evocative and intoxicating. While slow in some parts, the plot moves quickly in the last third of the book as the main character finally reaches his appointed destiny and in so doing, peace with himself.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, Torture, Violence, Death, Racial slurs, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Slavery, and Trafficking

Moderate: Abandonment, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Classism

srjennings's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Torture

Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, Violence, Rape, and Death

cakrolik's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Racial slurs, Slavery, Classism, Death of parent, and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

jhblahut's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• 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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, Slavery, Rape, and Trafficking

litliz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, Racism, Rape, and Trafficking

lou_mac's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

I really struggled with the first part of this book- the story sort of slipped over me and I couldn't hold on to the characters and what they were doing, but something switched around the half way point. The story was engaging, I suddenly felt I understood the characters and really fell in love with the books magic. The idea of making the magic memory was beautiful to me, and it did make me have a little cry and points.
It was also fascinating to see a magic lens on slavery and the underground railway - and I think this book balanced the complexity and nuances of the underground operation beautifully.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Death

corngod31's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, Rape, Racial slurs, Slavery, Grief, Death, and Colonisation

vedpears's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Police brutality, Murder, Death, Racism, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking

Moderate: Sexual assault, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death of parent, Cursing, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Gun violence

Minor: Gore