Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

48 reviews

avacate9's review

adventurous challenging informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Bullying, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

itsheyfay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Death of parent, Classism, and Medical content

Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, Misogyny, Outing, Classism, Death, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

suzannah's review

emotional informative medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Classism, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Dementia, Sexual assault, Rape, Chronic illness, Racism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation

hardy314's review

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

A challenging book about family, race, identity, and sacrifices. A fantastic read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Racial slurs, Grief, Death of parent, and Racism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

delphine_'s review

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Murder, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Mental illness and Dementia

Minor: Sexual assault and Transphobia

kate_lemer's review

reflective fast-paced

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

2.25

The premise of the book is interesting. Though the summary is a bit misleading. It does not feel like anybody is the main character of this book, or rather, nobody is the main character of this book. As a reader, you are plunged inside the plot, and told to swim. Unfortunately, you keep on threading water up until the last page. 

It is possible that after reading so many (for me) bad contemporary books, I've become biased against them. But it does appear like I've treaded into an ocean of mediocre literature. I can't say the book is entirely bad. There are flashes of feeling, interesting remarks or thoughts of characters. Metaphores and red strings that lead you through the entire story, which only realise in hindsight. However, it feels like the author is trying to build a diverse narrative, tick all the boxes so to say. But in doing so, everything ends up so overwhelmingly underdeveloped. Just as you start hoping that it will go somewhere, the author decides to introduce yet another character. It is rushed - feels like an underbaked cake: the ingredients are there, but the cook did not how to bake it properly...

The most interesting parts are probably from Jude's perspective, especially those in the beginning. The way she intentionally blanks her father's abuse of her mother, how she blames her mother for certain aspects of it - it introduces the rationale in a very believable way. She is angry she's in a place where everybody hates her, she misses her father, and her mother keeps lying to her. She keeps clinging to a phantasy, because it's better than real life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Dysphoria

laurendenton's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Addiction, Dementia, and Misogyny

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Stalking, and Cursing

marissasa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This multi-generational family book is unique and engaging, and unlike any story I've read before. The concept of identical twins splitting off and living vastly different lives that are complete opposites of each other, and their choices impacting the lives of their daughters in deep ways, is so fascinating on its own and Brit Bennett pulled it off in writing effortlessly and beautifully. Every character felt so fleshed out, flawed, and real, from the main family members to their partners and the side characters supporting them along the way. It was satisfying to read diverse and intersectional issues these characters went through being handled in such a well thought out way, and the author's writing really elevated her story with colorful language and noticeable but skillful use of literary devices. I was engaged throughout and found myself reading faster at times because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I loved the idea she put forward that there comes a point when you have been lying for so long that it becomes true for yourself because it is the reality you've chosen to live and believe. Once this story's television adaptation is ready I will be watching it the day it comes out! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual content

journicanread's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Transphobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Misogyny, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Dementia

sunsetcity's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Racism, Abandonment, Hate crime, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Racial slurs, Transphobia, and Misogyny