Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

37 reviews

dianadelacruisin's review

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Animal death

seventhswan's review

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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? Yes

4.25

I borrowed this book from the library knowing absolutely nothing about it, and I was pleasantly surprised! I often find it difficult to suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy speculative fiction, but the horror/sci-fi element of The Centre was simple and internally consistent enough for me to almost believe it could happen in real life. I understand how that could turn some readers off - it's not a concept that felt super new or out-there, nor was it the be-all-end-all of the story - but for me it added to the horror and got me thinking more than I expected once I finished reading. 

It took a little while for the plot to properly get going, but once it did I was captivated. Few of the characters are people I'd like to spend time with but they felt very real, and I found myself caring what happened to them despite this. I also found myself sympathising with characters' actions more than I would have liked and asking myself questions I hadn't considered before. 

I could buy the

dubiously-consensual-cannibalism,

but I couldn't buy that the main characters were 35. They all behaved like they were in their mid 20s at most. This and a few other strange details took me out of the story in places. But overall I really enjoyed The Centre, and I'd love to read more work from this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, and Classism

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual content

Minor: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Terminal illness

melliedm's review

challenging dark reflective 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

A dark, messy look at legacy, language, colonialism, and patriarchy, and what it means to consume and be consumed. 

A part of me wanted to stay in this narrative for another 200 pages, but it truly does end in a powerful place, leaving us with the questions of what Anisa has observed vs what she has learned. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Cultural appropriation

thehannahclaire's review

dark informative mysterious tense slow-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Cannibalism

Moderate: Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Islamophobia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

zarakoconnor's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

Amazing commentary on colonialism, language and racism. Very reflective about the value we hold in non western voices, especially in story telling. Would recommend to anyone wanting to diversify their reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Minor: Cannibalism

emilywemily6's review

mysterious reflective slow-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

3.75

I was underwhelmed by this book based on my expectations. In general I found a lot to like about it, but felt that it was neither comic nor a true horror novel, as this book was described. It felt much more like a literary fiction novel with a sprinkle of horror elements. There wasn’t much suspense throughout the story even though the truth was hinted at being mysterious the whole time. I wasn’t even phased when the truth came out. I didn’t like particularly like the main character and found that she became more hypocritical throughout the book, like she was trying so hard to appear woke but then failed to see her own classist/racist/etc. shortcomings. The narrative felt very intimate, but because my dislike increased throughout the book for the main character, that intimacy was not my favorite. I found the discussions on language/linguistics interesting, and also the basic premise of The Centre. I also like how the narrative showed that the main character was actually recording for The Centre. The novels she translated also sounded super interesting! The ending was anticlimactic though, and her decision in the end didn’t really fit with her character up until that point in the story. I think I was hoping for more suspense and horror throughout this book, and even the big reveal was lacking. If you love literary fiction and want to tread lightly into horror, this is for you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Hate crime

Minor: Drug use, Pedophilia, and Medical content

spess's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Classism

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, and Colonisation

Minor: Animal death and Hate crime

urnee's review

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, and Cannibalism

sabrinaleaf's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

2.5 ⭐️ 

I dont recommend the audiobook, especially if you tend to zone out sometimes, The Center has a tendency to jump from one thing to another very quickly. I had a hard time keeping up. And when I finally thought we were getting somewhere with the ending, it ended abruptly, with little to no resolution.

All in all, I wanted a better ending and for The titular Center to have more of a presence in the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Sexism

karina19_'s review

mysterious 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

3.25

"Invite only" the part where she is driven out to the centre, the taxi cab driver really shared how difficult it is to be a minority in a country that constantly looks down on the color of your skin. I cried during those parts, they were so relatable. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Cannibalism