Reviews tagging 'Grief'

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones

43 reviews

littlepepperguy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Definitely sad, for sure be ready for something heavy and real. A really intricately weaved story of  interconnecting people with seemingly little in common other than a man making a victim of them (specifically one man but also men in general). Deals with the struggles of patriarchy and the fact that no one thrives within the suffocating environment of white supremacist western colonial patriarchy, not even the men, especially not the men of color in 1970's Barbados within the novel. Although it is set in the past and a window to how that specific time and place and those specific women were affected, it is a great allegory for how women are deeply affected by gender roles and abuse. Very intersectional and again super depressing. I'm white and was socialized as a woman and I think it is of utmost importance to read novels that show the difference in treatment between white woman and women of color. Intersectionality bb.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, Medical trauma, Grief, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Death, Sexism, Child death, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Infertility

honkinggoose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Grief

Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, and Violence

deen734's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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: Child death, Miscarriage, Grief, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

dianakamau's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Infertility, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Confinement

saara_ilona_muu's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful 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

4.0

Danielle Vitalis narrated this book in an incredibly monotonous tone. The story, itself, is very good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Torture, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Abandonment, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Blood, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Incest, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Sexual content

boba_n_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I am absolutely blown away by Cherie Jones’ novel. I can’t believe this is a debut! 

The way the characters’ stories weaved together seamlessly keeps the reader wanting more. 

Some books I find the need to keep a pen nearby because so many phrases strike me as beautiful—this was one of those books. I’d describe much of the prose as poetic. And this flow made me fly through the pages. 

The mystery, intrigue, suspicions, and relationships really make this story come to life. You get to know each character deeply through their backstories and similar traumas. Jones brings the past and present together with ease showing the reader how we’re all connected at the end of the day. 

I highly recommend this book. But definitely check the content warnings since many heavy topics are explored. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Child death, Grief, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Gun violence

Moderate: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Infidelity

Minor: Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

kiwialexa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Child death, Gun violence, and Rape

kashby's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Grief, Incest, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Infertility, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Violence, and Toxic relationship

bethsiekierawalker's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and Murder

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Stalking, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual violence

utopiaandmelancholy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

This book is easily the darkest, most traumatic book I have read in a long time, so if there are any subjects you find difficult to read about, it may be best avoided. However, I adored it. The writing had me gripped. I found getting the perspectives of a number of different characters about the central events of the narrative and all the surrounding history really transfixed me to the tragedy of it all. I really felt for most of the characters, trapped in their seemingly hopeless situations - parts of Lala's story made me want to cry. The violence in the story is graphic in places (particularly Mira's chapters at the start), and yet so matter of fact in others. I also really appreciated Mira's storyline and thoughts, both for its exploration of grief, shock, and guilt, and for the way her mixed heritage impacts on her life in Barbados and in England. A heartbreaking and stunning debut.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Rape, and Infertility

Moderate: Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Vomit, Abortion, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Drug use, Incest, and Toxic friendship