Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

8 reviews

noella19's review against another edition

4.0

emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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“I don’t know how to be anything else but a mother”

“God, when will you create a woman who will be fulfilled in herself, a full human being, not anybody’s appendage?”

Spent the entire time reflecting on how much society has progressed and also how much has remained the same 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, War

Minor: Alcoholism, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death of parent

raystation94's review

5.0

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Domestic abuse

scrapeen's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content

Minor: Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, Suicide attempt, War

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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 The Joys of Mothehood outlines an experience of marriage and motherhood that was anything but joyful. This Nigerian novel is set in the 1930s-1950s, and its depiction of the impact of patriarchy, polygamy and misogyny on the life of Nnu Ego was compelling, infuriating and heartbreaking. The impact of colonisation was evident and this story also highlighted other issues including ethnic divisions within Nigeria, urbanisation, class, wealth and, of course, gender roles. Sadly this is not an uplifting story but a powerful, important and worthwhile one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Grief

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

annikareads_'s review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, Colonisation

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Alcohol

sunnie_'s review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

zalilymoan's review against another edition

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Too emotionally draining for me right now. Unsure if I will come back to it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide

in7's review against another edition

4.0

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racism