Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

One Year of Ugly by Caroline Mackenzie

6 reviews

hmetwade's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Classism, Grief, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Deportation, Pregnancy, Stalking, Blood, Gun violence, Racism, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Death

charlieeee's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Trafficking, Violence, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Body shaming

Minor: Torture, Deportation, Racial slurs, Excrement, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Grief

At first I thought this was going to be a deep-dive into the immigrant experience in Trinidad, but it just reads like ‘middle class folkx are uncomfortable boo-hoo poor us’. Casual fat phobia throughout, stereotypes and constant sexualisation of Latinas with a general shrug of ‘what can you do’ rather than developing these women into complex characters in a complex situation. Megan and Vanessa deserved better writing.

hannah_lilli's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Antisemitism, Medical content, Violence, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Pregnancy, and Grief

Minor: Sexual content

outer_books's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful informative sad medium-paced

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

4.0

This was such a fun read, despite the annoying childish Yola, holy moly. This is a medium paced read and it centers around the situation that immigrants from Venezuela had to go through and lose when they had to run away from the rule of Maduro. It's really sad but the author gave it humor, even if I laughed at a 3 or 5 lines.

The reason why I didn't give it a full 5 is because of the writing style. This is a debut novel so I understand that it won't be a smooth type writing but the long, I don't know what to call it, puns or negative talks you link to a show or actor to make it more funny, breaks the immersion as well as it drags some of the situation.

Though it was much more tolerable when listening to the audiobook. I am happy to get this book and try something outside of my comfort zone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Cursing

Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Slavery, Trafficking, Classism, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Animal death, and Alcoholism

thenovelmaura's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

2.0

It took me a long time to decide how to rate this one and I still feel conflicted about my decision. I really enjoyed this quirky story and its hilarious cast of characters. While reading it, I thought the author did an excellent job of conveying the hardships these immigrant families face, and how they can be taken advantage of because they can't go to any authorities for help. However, I was put off by the author's note, which revealed that the author, while Trinidadian, is not Venezuelan like the fictional Palacio family. In retrospect, I should have done more research before picking it up (and in my own defense, they hired a Spanish-speaking narrator for the audiobook, which caused me to let down my guard). Suddenly what I thought were "in jokes" seemed more like punching down, and the internalized misogyny from the main character felt more like a bad stereotype than a critique of the author's own culture. This book left a bad taste in my mouth, but I suppose I should chalk it up to a lesson learned and move on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Trafficking

Moderate: Violence and Gun violence

Minor: Xenophobia

alisoun's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.75

Absolutely loved that this book had a really diverse setting and POV. It was definitely about a big sprawling family and every character was so alive and present in the story. Her Aunt Celia was so vibrant even for being dead! Her manuscript was an entirely different voice which I loved. 

I also loved that Yola was a total bitch. Absolutely love that for a main character! We don't see enough of them!!! 

Trinidad was also so well written and described (for me never having been there!). 

I do think that the end was wrapped up really quickly and easily. I would have liked that to be a bit more drawn out. 

It does have some fade to black sex scenes and some sexual scenes. So on page fcking though. 

I also feel it wasn't quite the ending I was seeking - I wanted a bit more of a wrap up. It was kind of a happily for now with our main couple but not for the other characters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, Violence, Trafficking, Blood, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, and Adult/minor relationship