Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

17 reviews

historyoftape's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

There are so many good things packed into this story. A rich understanding if culture and language, characters that grow or are stifled depending on their environments, social, economic and political commentary, great dialogue, captivating imagery... It's a book that had me deeply invested in the main character's goals, dreams, and growth, where I loved the side characters, and where, while I may not have made similar decisions, I could understand and even support Janies decisions because I understood that they were the right path for her. The ending was heartbreaking and real, hurt me in a good way. It's been a while since I read a book that finished this strongly.

The way Janies words were so rare in the beginning of the story, to how confident and free in speaking she is by the end was one of the most striking things to me. One of the most effective but subtle ways to show her growth I have encountered in a while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Gun violence, Murder, Confinement, Grief, Animal cruelty, Classism, Death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction

serenedancer's review

emotional 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? Yes

4.0

Well written interesting story. There were parts that I didn't quite love (like the common references to domestic violence without it being seen as wrong) but I felt like it was included as it would have been historically. I liked the way it was written.

It is definitely slower moving but it still works well. 

Also, if you're having issues with the way it's written, I found that the audiobook helped there. It helped me if I hear it read out.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Rape

Minor: Racism

akaspiderlily's review

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

A story where Janie’s own terms of love are set and fixed by her and her alone, and in that way it’s revolutionary. Beautifully written, and an ode to the cultural color of the south and its mighty strong women’s wills. It’s a coming of age story as riveting as anything modern. It warmed my heart to read it and know that there was someone as frilly-natured of a writer as me in the 1930s. You’ve got to live to have a life worth loving, and you’ve also got to love to have a life worth living.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting and Domestic abuse

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Rape, and Sexism

alexisgarcia's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

a very good book, especially considering when it was written. it was way ahead of its time. the characters were incredibly realistic. they were lovable but definitely flawed. this book could’ve been nonfiction because of how real and natural the characters and plot were. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Violence, Murder, Sexism, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic relationship

jujulemonade's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

The book covers janie’s quest for love. it’s a beautiful story about how to find belonging, particularly when in relationship with others. how to make the most of a bad situation and how to take what you have and run with it.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder

_sia_'s review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Rape

allisonbrooke's review

dark emotional sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical content, Sexism, Terminal illness, Death, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Grief, Racism, Cursing, and Racial slurs

ldpaige's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-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

5.0

Upon the second read 6 years later, this was an eye-opener in a way I dreamed possible. Being an adult and reading this hits different.

One thing I noticed as an adult that I didn’t notice as a teenager was that every man that Janie was with was abusive towards her. Even with Tea Cake, she never truly experienced a pure love without violence. Even her deepest love betrayed her in that way. It’s just so sad but it’s real. She was in the same relationship three times, and never truly broke the cycle by the end of the book. The only way she could do that was to be by herself and love herself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence

ekg's review

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Animal death, Murder, Rape, Animal cruelty, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse and Death

Minor: Slavery

alexandra_skl's review

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

4.75

Such a fantastic novel that really dives into deep themes about love, race, and, sexuality

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse