Scan barcode
jouljet's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse
adabubba's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Miriam Toews is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors, and Women Talking is only solidifying that stance.
There’s nothing I could say that could emulate the beauty of this book and what a pleasure it was to read, so I’ll leave you with my favourite quote:
There’s nothing I could say that could emulate the beauty of this book and what a pleasure it was to read, so I’ll leave you with my favourite quote:
“What good is it to be alive if you are not in the world?” (Toews 215).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Misogyny
lilymouse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
Beautiful and heartwrenching
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexism
ldandridge's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A powerful story, and I really enjoyed the format of it being a record of their conversation over two days. Like others have said, though, I question the efficacy of telling this story through a man's perspective. Overall I really liked this and it will definitely sit with me for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexism
nickoliver's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is a hard book to rate. I found it to be a frustrating read for the most part, because the women discussed things that were quite obvious in my eyes, and they also talked in circles a lot. The crimes committed to these women and their families were just horrendous, and the fact that they had to actively think about doing anything about it was so weird to me. Like, of course you shouldn't ignore what happened and keep living with men who literally raped a three-year-old. You should do something about it. And the fact that they just kept wondering, 'Yeah, but won't God send us to Hell if we leave and don't forgive the men?' made me want to fling myself off a cliff. I know my relationship with religion is different, but Jesus, who the fuck wants to believe in a God who'd let rapists into heaven and punish women for being raped?
However, I feel like I have to take a step back when it comes to this book. After all, I grew up in a household that was Catholic on paper but mostly atheistic in practice. I didn't live in a patriarchal colony that taught me from the moment I developed a conscience that I had nothing to offer but my ability to make babies. Of course, if you grow up in a colony that's completely shut off from the world and you have no education, can't write, can't read, wouldn't even be able to pinpoint your town on a map, your take on things will be different. It's always easier to be on the outside of things and judge people on the inside. So, I think I have to think about that first before giving this book a bad rating based on my frustration with the women.
Though to be fair, I also wasn't a fan of the rest of the book. Like I said, the women kept talking in circles, so that made it a bit boring. I also had a hard time telling the women apart and knowing their relationships to each other; I kept mixing them up with each other. Plus, the person who kind of "narrated" the story was a man, and he often either went off on tangents about his own life or talked about his love for one of the women, and those parts just didn't feel like they should've been in the story? For a book called "Women Talking", it sure concentrated a lot on a man.
However, I feel like I have to take a step back when it comes to this book. After all, I grew up in a household that was Catholic on paper but mostly atheistic in practice. I didn't live in a patriarchal colony that taught me from the moment I developed a conscience that I had nothing to offer but my ability to make babies. Of course, if you grow up in a colony that's completely shut off from the world and you have no education, can't write, can't read, wouldn't even be able to pinpoint your town on a map, your take on things will be different. It's always easier to be on the outside of things and judge people on the inside. So, I think I have to think about that first before giving this book a bad rating based on my frustration with the women.
Though to be fair, I also wasn't a fan of the rest of the book. Like I said, the women kept talking in circles, so that made it a bit boring. I also had a hard time telling the women apart and knowing their relationships to each other; I kept mixing them up with each other. Plus, the person who kind of "narrated" the story was a man, and he often either went off on tangents about his own life or talked about his love for one of the women, and those parts just didn't feel like they should've been in the story? For a book called "Women Talking", it sure concentrated a lot on a man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, and Dementia
biblizo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
cmreadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Rape, Misogyny, Incest, and Domestic abuse
rigbees's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book follows the discussion of a community as the women decide what to do in the aftermath of a series of assaults. It unwinds slowly as the women focus on three limited options: leave, stay and fight, or do nothing. While characterization is a major goal of this book as the women's personalities push-and-pull their discussions, there is still a decent amount of action and suspense.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Suicide, and Sexism
More...