Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

31 reviews

louisekf's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, Infertility, and Blood

judythedreamer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Quick thought on story structure: the non-chronological double timeline lends itself to an alternative structure. The current day sections are in actuality the third act playing out, so plot point 2 is them leaving Ferrara for the fortezza with the poisoning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Classism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Sexual assault, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, and Torture

yourfavavery's review

reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

So I was really torn about this one. The story follows Lucrezia de Medici, who marries the Duke of Ferrara at 15 when her sister (the original bride) dies. The Duke is desperate for an heir, and when she doesn't get pregnant within a year, he kills her. That's it - that's the whole story.

The Pros: O'Farrell is an incredible writer from a technical perspective. Her descriptions are lush, and the story as told from Lucretia's perspective gives us enough description to know what is happening without making the main character omnipotent (a real pet peeve of mine).

The Cons: SOMETHING should have happened. Lucrezia is housed outside of Ferrara for most of her marriage, so we don't get to see the political machinations that lead to her death and there's very little tension built as a result. Lucrezia doesn't even interact with her husband that much, so we don't understand their dynamic either. The author does a great job showing that Lucrezia chafes at her limited role in society and longs for freedom, but when her death arrives she doesn't do anything to prevent her own murder. This is honestly more of a character study than anything else, because very little happens "on screen" in this book.

Overall, it's good for what it is, but I needed more from this. If you liked it and want to read another great character study, try My Year of Rest and Relaxation next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Minor: Sexual content

hannah_21's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Beautifully crafted just like Hamnet- I liked the progression of the characters and the way your really got a sense of her resistance against the oppression she faced. Interesting going into it again being told she’s going to die - similar to Hamnet where it makes you think differently about the character. The ending was really tense and read almost like a thriller.

I loved the mention of Venice at the end although I did think the last chapter was a bit rushed -would have been good to see Lucrezia show remorse for Emilia’s death-I also did guess quite early on that they were going to swap lucrezia for the maid but it was still nice to see her survive

Overall a good book but I knocked off a Star because bits of it were quite slow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexism

skyfluff8's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious tense

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Classism, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abandonment

amyw's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Vomit

booksalacarte's review

dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

It was really hard to get into the book, feeling as if I knew how it ended. 

There is a lot of timeline jumping, starting in 1561, then looking back. It was a good take and created a little more suspense that was necessary for a fictional take on a historical figure.

Looking into the fantastical mind of a young girl growing up in the life she did was very interesting. To see her unsettled nature, suspicion and premonition of her own life. She is battling for her own survival and it’s hard to read and not be moved. 

I also found reading about a child bride a challenge. Especially knowing that it was normal for the time. I couldn’t stop thinking about how she was a child, having to act as a wife and the duplicity of those around her.

The depictions of the Italian courts and culture was very nice.
 
I appreciated the creative liberties taken. I thought it was well done!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Vomit, Sexism, Death, Animal cruelty, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Religious bigotry and Animal death

bexdubyah's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, and Murder

Moderate: Murder, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Violence

Minor: Animal death, Infertility, and Animal cruelty

audreymoss's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Death, Murder, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Violence

ninjamuse's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Physical abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Bullying, Violence, Pregnancy, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage and Child death