Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

58 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.

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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

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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

itsbilliam's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

This book has such a powerful story and the writing is beautiful. Detailed, imaginative, and reflective. I do have to say it was hard book to get through. It had a very slow pace. I want to say that the slow pace was intentional due to the story and following the main character trying to free himself and those he loved from slavery through the underground railroad. You really did get to see how he lost his hope but gained it back and keeping the faith we through all the time to one day be free. It was truly a beautiful read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, and Racism

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.

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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

nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.5

This book was beautifully written and the audiobook was fantastic. The only thing was that sometimes the pacing was a tad slow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Torture

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

jzmnz's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Kidnapping

Moderate: Torture, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, Rape, and Racism

sailormar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad 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? No

5.0

Definitely one you have to really devote attention to - the prose is very poetic and sometimes requires a slow read to really get the meaning. But WOW gorgeous, beautiful, brutal, and imaginative. Loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Slavery, and Racism

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

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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

seniilia's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

gives you a lot to think about and reflect

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Violence