Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

24 reviews

lidia7's review against another edition

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Classism, and Racism

Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, and Homophobia

takarakei's review against another edition

reflective fast-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

Really enjoyed listening to Zadie Smith's accompanying analysis of the only short story Toni Morrison wrote, which she posits makes this story even more significant. This one is really a thinker.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Bullying, and Ableism

Moderate: Abandonment and Classism

Minor: Homophobia

nelireads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Ableism, and Bullying

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Classism

Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Chronic illness

cassielaj's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

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

5.0

Toni Morrison’s talent and intentionality are once again awe-inspiring, and Zadie Smith’s insightful introduction (which I would recommend reading AFTER reading the story through once) brought so much context and thought to this already excellent story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Classism

robinks's review

emotional mysterious reflective 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

When I first heard about the concept of this short story, I was so intrigued. Now having read it, it really made me think about race and class and growing up. I wish the introduction was an afterword, as it contained many spoilers of the content.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Ableism, and Bullying

Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, and Violence

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Homophobia

jjjjo's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Ableism, Bullying, Addiction, Child abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Drug use, Classism, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Death of parent

orangeoverload's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is a tale of race, memory and friendship. But the twist? Which woman is black and which woman is white. 
At points, I thought that I had it figured out; only for their races to switch after a certain piece of dialogue. And what are these decisions to switch based on. Facts? Stereotypes? My own biases and what I think to be back and white? It was fascinating.
Zadie Smiths introduction was a great read too, though I would read it after reading the main story, and it spoils it massively.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, Bullying, and Ableism

gertrudski's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Racism and Classism

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Once again brilliant storytelling from Morrison! One girl is White and the other is Black but you’re never told which one is which. You can’t help but try and guess who is White and who is Black, which is a clever way of being confronted with the stereotypes you have about race. As Zadie Smith noted in the introduction, society has structured our belief in needing categorization so even as I went into the story thinking I wouldn’t try to guess, I couldn’t help but attempt and try to categorize Roberta and Twyla. Maybe that’s the point of Morrison’s story; to make the reader confront and question their unconscious bias.

It’s a short book making it a quick read, especially as I was engaged the whole time. Very thought provoking and interesting story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Ableism

Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, and Bullying

Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Physical abuse