Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Raízes Brancas by Bernardine Evaristo

48 reviews

ahbuggrit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Torture

Minor: Rape

jennie_white2008's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This book is graphic in the second half. Deep thinking and thought provoking 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and Trafficking

muchadoaboutliz's review against another edition

challenging funny tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Confinement

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Trafficking, and Grief

fionag's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was my first Evaristo, and I really enjoyed it. 
Blonde Roots is a satire about what would’ve happened if white people were enslaved instead of black people. 
The two perspectives of the book are both distinct and very different, and Evaristo’s writing style is unique and made the book feel oddly timeless. 
Some of the satire felt a bit too on the nose for me (Coasta coffee) but I did laugh when Doris longed for the bland food of her country. 
The book spans years and a lot goes on, showing experience of capture, domestic slavery and plantation life. I really liked how all the characters connected in some way. 
The ending was very bittersweet, after all, slavery never ends well. 
I really liked what Evaristo did with the book, though I’m not sure that it was more affective than a book about traditional slavery. I can understand though this Blond Roots will probably give some people a wider perspective and, because history is written by the victors, shows how easily things could’ve been different. 
Really enjoyable read, will absolutely check out more of her books 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Torture and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

bryonyporter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

ericaosko's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is a book I continue to think about weeks and months after I read it. It gives a unique and powerful perspective on race and the slave trade, which revealed things to me about my own biases. The satire clever and funny, but the book was difficult to read because of the graphic violence. The violence made the book all the more hard-hitting and poignant, but it isn't always an enjoyable reading experience. This book is a must-read but should not be picked up lightly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Trafficking

beckysbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Kidnapping

adel's review against another edition

3.0

3 stars - might read again

Life's Library 2020 - Rosianna's pick

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Excrement