Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

23 reviews

phantomgecko's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

Big fan.

A novel that takes embroidery and sewing and portrays it as the legitimate art medium it is. Her needlework is not a weak female stereotype. It quite literally empowers her to be her own woman in a time when that's not easy.

Isobel is a fun character too. She's kind and clever but also naive and makes frustrating mistakes.

Also, hadn't thought much about xenophobia in New England. Like, here's a literate white woman in Massachusetts but oops, she's from ScOtLanD which means she's an imMiGraNt and uNtrUstwOrthY.

As a whole though, this was a great novel with great historical influence and creative speculation.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Classism

haley49's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual content, Abortion, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

yourfavavery's review

emotional 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? No

3.75

So because I'm an idiot sometimes, I didn't read or familiarize myself with the Scarlet Letter before reading this. It was still a great read though.

The story follows Isobel Gamble, a recent Scottish immigrant to Salem. She made the passage with her husband, who is addicted to opium and neglects his wife's well-being as a result. Isobel is a master embroiderer, and after her husband head to sea for work she meets Nathaniel Hawthorne. So this is meant to be the story that inspires him to write the Scarlet Letter.

She also learns more about the Salem witch trials, slavery's legacy in the North and ongoing effects in the US, and that the "freedom" Salem residents love to crow about isn't for everyone.

The story is compelling, the writing is rich, and the themes are 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Abortion

annailles's review

emotional sad 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent

emmas_bookshelf's review

dark mysterious slow-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

4.0

I found this book really interesting and was always surprised and impressed with the turns that Isobel’s life took. I also was relieved by the ending. Definitely would recommend if you like historicals with a hint of magic and mystery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Slavery, and Xenophobia

kirstym25's review

emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, and Slavery

Moderate: Body shaming and Xenophobia

oceanwriter's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

4.0

I'll be honest. I wanted to read this book because the cover is gorgeous. I paid minimum attention to the synopsis until later when I was discussing it with the person I ended up buddy-reading it with. Once I fully realized what it was about and where it was set, I was 100% sold.

Isobel and her husband, Edward, immigrate from Scotland to Salem, Massachusetts sometime in the early 1800s. They aren't together here long as Edward soon joins a ship crew and leaves Isobel behind to fend for herself. She's not without a trade, fortunately, and is a talented seamstress. But are her talents the result of something that could ultimately put her life in danger?

While Edward is away, Isobel forges a friendship with none other than Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both of them are haunted by their pasts and lineage. This common bond draws them to one another.

I enjoyed this a lot, though I could be biased as I can consider it a local story. I do think I would have gotten a lot more out of the story if I had first read The Scarlet Letter. One thing I still can't figure out is the significance of the italicized sections of the book. I understand the connection between the characters portrayed here and the protagonists, but they fizzle out toward the end. I personally found it more confusing than an aid in the progression of the story.

This is the first time I've read a book that involves a character with synesthesia. So fascinating. It added a lot to Isobel's character and made the story richer. The descriptions were fantastic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, and Slavery

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion

keyahnah's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Xenophobia

readingonfordearlife's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad 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: Sexism and Slavery

Moderate: Xenophobia

erynlasbelin's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail