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Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

250 reviews

dark emotional sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

one of the most thought provoking books i’ve read in a really long time. very difficult read but worth it if you can handle it. asks a lot of questions about beauty, conformity, self loathing, generational trauma and systemic oppression and how they all shape our lives. having this as your first novel is insane

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional reflective sad tense 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: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark 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: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging emotional sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging emotional 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

Let me start with this; this is a most elegantly written novel. The style is superb and absorbing. The perspectives make it a very important read. 
But while some sections you can float in the prose and just enjoy how fabulous a storyteller Morrison is, the overall subject matter has some deeply disturbing threads. Yes, you know this already if you’ve read even one summary of the book. It doesn’t make it easier to read. It is heartbreaking and disgusting and so so overwhelming that you can’t help but read with a grimace. 
I know this book has changed me and I will be thinking about it for a long time. I do recommend reading this between fluffier pieces to keep balance. 

The banned elephant in the room… I understand why this book gets put up for bans. It has some really dark stuff. But while I don’t know what age I would recommend this to my future hypothetical offspring (certainly after they’ve learned about sex in a more loving and positive context) and I would rather they not have to read this with someone unqualified to guide them through it (which happens in schools sometimes- either due to peers or professionals…). All that said, I cannot imagine denying this voice. Context matters. Don’t ban books. 

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