Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The emperor's babe: A novel by Bernardine Evaristo, Bernardine Evaristo

8 reviews

ecster's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Confinement

heather_freshparchment's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Suicide and Confinement

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 After reading Manifesto I wanted to pick up one of Evaristo’s two books that I hadn’t read. Since one of them isn’t her best work (her opinion not mine) I opted for The Emperor’s Babe. Set in Londinium in 211AD,It’s the story of a young Sudanese woman who married to a much older man, and goes on to have an affair with the visiting Emperor. It was a joyous delight to read. It’s a novel in verse - and the poetry really shines. I especially loved the combination of Latin and Cockney rhyming slang. Talk about a unique pairing yet it really highlighted Zuleika’s wit and verve. She was an unabashed and irrepressible character who really leapt off the page. Although ostensibly set 1800 years ago it feels fresh and relevant today. Power imbalances due to gender, wealth and race sadly did not decline with the Roman Empire. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Confinement

schorlett's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, War, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Confinement

jennikreads's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Rape, and Toxic friendship

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

relaxing medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Violence, Slavery, Confinement, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Rape

honestlyholly's review against another edition

adventurous sad fast-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

4.25

I've never been a fan of poetry; I hated it at school. Perhaps if this book has been on the curriculum, I'd have liked it more! 

This was such an eclectic mix of Roman rule in London and modern sensibilities. You have a pre-teen Nubian girl marrying and old, rich man who locks her away, and then it follows her life on-and-off until she reaches adulthood.

The ending is not what I expected but I understood it. I questioned her choices leading up to this ending, and couldn't help but feel frustrated that things didn't work out differently, but it was apt for the time, I think.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Murder

Minor: Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, and Infertility

hardcoverhearts's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

This book takes place in London when Romans occupied it and it was called Londinium. There is a brutal and horrific coliseum scene of death for sport in all sorts of forms. It’s powerful and effective in how it impacts the narrator. But rough to read.