Reviews tagging 'Violence'

What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah

4 reviews

kananineko's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Death, Grief, Blood, Classism, Violence, Abandonment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide attempt, War, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Gun violence

moonlitemuseum's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

The platter of misery served up by Lesley Nneka Arimah is so potent and rich that I could barely stomach it. It took me two tries to get through this anthology of short stories in full, but what a range! So many left me feeling haunted, empty, gnawing, but thoroughly sustained in spite of that.

I originally heard the titular "What It Means When A Man Falls from the Sky" on Levar Burton's podcast and it shook me to the core. A world where math=empathy, where our current climate troubles turn global politics inside-out, where grief is empirically indigestible—i loved everything about the anxious world she wove in this story. It hits like a bullet every time.

Most of the stories take a grain of sadness in the lives of women and inspect it under a microscope. How do they fail themselves? How are they failed by the societies around them? How do they continue on? I often dreaded the pause that signaled the end of the story, knowing its characters would be left there, suspended in their grief. It's incredibly effective work. I can't wait to read more from this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Death, Sexism, Grief, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Abandonment, Violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child death, Body shaming, Blood, and Bullying

aeterna's review

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

A lot of the stories had very unique and interesting premises. Arimah's writing style can be very impactful. At times the stories and characters are so vague to the point where it was distracting and confusing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, and Violence

calybe's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-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? Yes

5.0

I first heard the title story on the Le Var Burton Reads podcast and knew I had to read more of Lesley Nneka Arimah's work. This collection of short stories interweaves generational trauma, girlhood, familial expectations with magical realism and human stories that make you reflect about the world. These are not stories that pulsate and stay with you long after you are done reading. There were quite a few stories that I read with tears in my eyes. All the characters feel real, and whether likable or unlikable, you understand why they are the way they are and you can't help but wish for the best outcome. More than one stories ending has left me in emotional turmoil. A fantastic collection of short stories that I devoured and will be a piece of me for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship