Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

42 reviews

marabdelmageed's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Classism, Death of parent, Dementia, Cultural appropriation, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Cursing, Dysphoria, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

zombiezami's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-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? Yes

5.0

I don’t know why, but when I first heard of this book, I thought I wouldn’t be interested. In reality, it is practically made for me: a mid-century historical fiction where the narrative changes perspective. That’s right up my alley. I loved the way this was written and the way the plot unfolded. My one complaint is that it felt like Desiree didn’t get as much development compared to other characters. Still, I truly loved this, and I would highly recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Bullying

Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Excrement, and Slavery

Colorism, lynching

particledamage's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.25

 I'm ashamed to admit, it took me a bit to get into this book. Part 1 felt like more exposition than story, veering heavily into entire chapters that felt like they were screaming "These are the themes of this novel! Here is the allegory!" and it was hard to wade through at times. 

But once the story got truly going, pushing past character introductions and scene setting, an amazing story blossomed. This book is stuffed to the brim with a compelling cast and stories that you don't always encounter. It knows exactly what it wants to be and it takes you along with it, eager to travel through time and history.

I've been in a reading rut for ages but this story brought me back.

So, if there's anyone out there who maybe feels discouraged by Part 1, keep going, it's well worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Hate crime

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexism

Minor: Alcohol and Drug use

faustinagut_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

4.5

The writing is really beautiful, I don't remember having so much highlights in a book in a long time. 

How it comes and goes through different moments of main characters lives was the thing I loved the most about it. I loved how it talks about identity and family bonds (mostly mother-daughter). 

As someone from South America with zero detailed knowledge about racial history in the US it was cool to learn a bit about all the issues narrated in this one.

The story faded a little towards the end, but it's still one of my favorite reads of the year.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Death of parent, and Death

emmagreenwood's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Transphobia, and Xenophobia

scruffie's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

I didn't know I'd like it so much when I first picked it up. Loved every bit of it. 5 stars from me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, and Medical content

Minor: Blood

mariamj's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

Amazing AMAZING book. Brit Bennett is a great story teller. You really get invested in each character and wanting the best for them. Simply great! Loved it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse

rietbelmans's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Bullying and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual violence

combepherre's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

Minor: Bullying, Sexual violence, and Child abuse

natasharockyroad's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Medical content, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Transphobia