Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

7 reviews

tinkithesquirelll's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense 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? No

4.5

4.5 stars.
This was a phenomenal book. I loved the inside on how india operated and the families. This was a beautiful book about hardship , love , guilt, and starting over. I love Lakshmi and respect the hardship she had to endure throughout this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Racism, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Infidelity, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide

apriltee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexism, and Domestic abuse

nirejalk's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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: Child abuse, Abortion, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexual content, Miscarriage, and Grief

hannazoeo's review against another edition

60% into this book, I realized it was going to be a dnf. I was enjoying parts of the story and Lakshmi as a character, aside from it being a sort of "exotic" portrayal of India written for Westerners. But then I couldn't get over the glossed-over child sexual abuse, and when the author tries to make Lakshmi's abusive ex-husband a sympathetic character. We learn that he "only" beat her because he knew about her induced miscarriages - while being in an abusive marriage she never wanted. A redemptive arc is okay... but not done in this shallow way. 

I understand that India, and especially women in that country, has had an extraordinarily difficult time with its history of child marriages and sexual abuse. But I've felt that these things can be written about with a feeling of desensitization or reasoning I can't understand. This isn't really a criticism of the author(s) and their experiences, but just a feeling that made this book not right for me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

itchyfeetreader's review against another edition

dark hopeful medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Child abuse

reddeddy's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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: Abandonment, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Abortion, Child abuse, Child death, and Classism

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Violence, Xenophobia, Bullying, and Cursing

Minor: Ableism, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

thevietvegan's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a beautiful story. I don't know a lot about Hindu and Muslim culture in India, but I feel like I was able to participate in a small sliver of it with how vivid this book is. The characters are so real, the hurt is real, and the growth feels real.

This book explores what motherhood means, the ripple of effects of ones actions, and how it can be futile to try and do everything on your own and that sometimes things are simply not about you nor are your fault.

I felt so much kinship to Lakshmi because of her feelings and experience while straddling the line of being a caretaker but wanting the closeness of a sister. Wanting friendship but feeling the weight of responsibility.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death