Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Women Could Fly: A Novel

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Women Could Fly: A Novel by Megan Giddings

33 reviews

dahud's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

The premise is interesting and had some great potential, especially the theme of relinquishing expectations how others will as we would wish. Not to mention the witchcraft trope, which should speak to my heart. Sadly the book is racist. Yes, racist - just read the scene where Jo and her best friend are making fun of white/midwestern girls. Racism is not always toward the darker skin colours. The book is also misandristic. The main character makes a list how all men (yes, she says all, even strangers, passers-by etc.) hurt her this or that way. There is just one decent male character in the whole book. And lastly, with the mention of trans community just thrown in there with no follow through and using „cis women” and „cis men”, I was wondering whether the author really was so concerned about certain issues or just trying to capitalise on the current social trends.

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dreamweaver's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

blueyogi's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

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amandadelbrocco's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This had a really interesting concept but it just didn't click with me. I didn't find myself invested in the story at all but it's also not my typical genre.

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slrich9024's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective 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? No

4.0

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haileyhardcover's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.0

Modern-day witch trials, a search for a missing mother, an island of witches… and an author I just gave a very enthusiastic five stars to! By all accounts, this should have been another easy five stars, but no. I can’t remember the last time I was so disappointed by a book. This is 277 pages of going nowhere SLOW. Every time I thought the story was about to ramp up and get good, I was let down. Like, he most interesting part is when the MC is aggressively investigated for witchcraft, and even that managed to be dull somehow.

I can see what Giddings was trying to do with this book. The themes of sexism and racism are loud and undoubtedly important, but damn I wish they were presented with a better written story. I’m really sad to be rating this one so low.

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wlreed312's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Well this was glorious.

The Women Could Fly is a novel set in a world that is just a step off from ours, the major difference being that magic is real, but carefully controlled and regulated. It is said that only women are able to access this magic because of their highly emotional nature. Our main character is Jo, who is approaching the age of 28, where she must be registered, and closing in on the age where she must have a man (father, brother, spouse) to be accountable for her actions. Jo is a messy messy character who has a tremendous amount of trauma due to the disappearance of her mother 14 years ago, and her subsequent questioning about witchcraft (torture, not to put too fine a point on it). This is an examination of racism, homophobia, and misogyny, yes. But it's also a story about how bad it screws you up when the adults in your life (especially your parents) don't see everything that you are, and only love an image of you they have in their minds.

This was one of those books that touched me deeply for reasons I can't fully articulate. I love how complicated Jo is, and how she wants to be better for the people she loves. I love that her romantic relationship with a man is complex, because while she does care for him, she resents the fact that she must be in a heteronormative relationship or be monitored in truly invasive ways. There is a power imbalance in every relationship between men and women in this world, and it's explored in interesting ways. My only very minor complaint is that I wish we had a little bit more resolution between Jo and Angie

(how long has Angie had that doll? Why didn't she tell Jo what she knew ?

) I also loved the writing, and highlighted many passages (which is unusual for me). I can definitely see that this is a book I appreciate in a different way because I'm older, but I just really really loved it.

Content Warnings