Reviews tagging 'Racism'

I Have Some Questions for You: A Novel by Rebecca Makkai

108 reviews

ecn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Death, Classism, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Rape, Physical abuse, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Racism, Mental illness, Infidelity, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Pedophilia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Body shaming

katarinabee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book is like the first season of the Serial podcast, crossed with the dark academia vibes of Tartt's "The Secret History".  It examines true crime as a genre - such as how invested we can get in a crime; how difficult it can be to find the "truth"; and the power/limitations of "citizen detectives". There's also a deep dive into cancel culture - how it can be important and useful for challenging abusers in positions of power, but also looking at  problematic aspects too. I watched Contrapoints' video essay on YouTube about cancel culture around the same time as reading this book, which was a really nice complement. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Racism, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, and Drug use

adlane22's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Murder

kathleenthebean's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Racism, Blood, Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

mollychristiantyler's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Murder

awderrick's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Classism, Racism, Violence, and Bullying

jesselopod's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.25

A well written book with a disappointing plot 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Cancer, Murder, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Rape

ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

Not my usual type of thing, but it's a fast-paced murder mystery clearly designed to make you reevaluate our justice system. This only took me a few days to finish once I got started. I also don't have a burning need to read it again though, so take that as you will. Recommended if you're in the usual audience for challenging mysteries.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Rape

It's a murder mystery where a girl is killed at a high school, there are certain tropes you should probably expect going in. The aftermath is described in detail, and there are multiple times the narrator attempts to reconstruct the events that led to it, but the actual murder is not described in real time.

kdonovan's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Racism, Eating disorder, and Sexual harassment

heather3879's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This is the first book I have read by Makkai, and it was solid. They story focuses on Bodie Kane, a podcaster who returns to her boarding school ostensibly as a visiting professor, but with the underlying intention of resolving some questions about the murder of her school roommate. It addresses inequities in the justice system; wealth, privilege, and power; and deeply ingrained misogyny. I do think Makkai could have eliminated some tangential characters and narratives that made the book difficult to follow at times, but overall it was a good read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence