Reviews tagging 'Violence'

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones

79 reviews

abbie_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.25

How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps her House is a novel about the violence inflicted on women by the men in their lives. You know going in that it’s going to be a tough read, but boy does Jones throw everything she’s got at you. The sheer, unending misery of the lives of these women was what made me struggle through it, but at the same time what makes it an important read. Jones states in her afterword that she wrote it to highlight the situation lots of women in Barbados find themselves in, trapped in cycles of violence, unable to see another option for themselves but to stay by the side of their abuser. The story is so driven by acts of violence (literally every bad thing you could think of that could happen to a woman) that I trudged through it, wary of whatever horror lay in the next chapter.
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I did love the way the story stripped back the layers of Barbados - to white western tourists, the name evokes a tropical paradise, but Jones depicts the everyday lives and cruelties of the folks who live there. If you enjoyed that aspect of Eve Out of Her Ruins (I prefer that one to this), then you might appreciate this one too!
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A tough read that I’m glad I read for its exposé of violence against women in Barbados, but it will leave you exhausted. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Murder, Child death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Racism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, Violence, and Sexual violence

dianakamau's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Infertility, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Confinement

saara_ilona_muu's review

challenging dark hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

Danielle Vitalis narrated this book in an incredibly monotonous tone. The story, itself, is very good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Torture, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Abandonment, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Blood, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Incest, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Sexual content

boba_n_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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

5.0

I am absolutely blown away by Cherie Jones’ novel. I can’t believe this is a debut! 

The way the characters’ stories weaved together seamlessly keeps the reader wanting more. 

Some books I find the need to keep a pen nearby because so many phrases strike me as beautiful—this was one of those books. I’d describe much of the prose as poetic. And this flow made me fly through the pages. 

The mystery, intrigue, suspicions, and relationships really make this story come to life. You get to know each character deeply through their backstories and similar traumas. Jones brings the past and present together with ease showing the reader how we’re all connected at the end of the day. 

I highly recommend this book. But definitely check the content warnings since many heavy topics are explored. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Child death, Grief, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Gun violence

Moderate: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Infidelity

Minor: Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

leontyna's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Incest, Infidelity, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Child abuse, and Child death

Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Animal death, and Abortion

grace_anna's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Murder, Miscarriage, Blood, and Sexual violence

megmoore123's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Drug abuse, Murder, and Domestic abuse

mirireads's review

challenging dark 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Rape

Minor: Miscarriage

kashby's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Grief, Incest, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Infertility, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Violence, and Toxic relationship

sierranichole's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

     this book is just excellent. so flawless. it is easily my favorite and most important book i have read yet. it really made me think and reflect. cherie jones did a marvelous job.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, Incest, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Child death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal death, Abortion, and Excrement