Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

14 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

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

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

siebensommer's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

so good. also reading smith’s ‘introduction’ afterwards felt super rewarding

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Racism

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

mx_sunshine's review against another edition

reflective 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

This was very interesting. I’ll definitely be reading more from Toni Morrison. I love her writing style.
My favourite part was about the signs. Very tense. I’ve never read such an open ended story.
Zadie Smith’s introduction was very insightful but it unfortunately shaped my thoughts on the story before I had a chance to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Racism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Homophobia, Drug use, and Death of parent

akane_readsyt's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Bullying, and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment and Homophobia

Minor: Cursing, Sexism, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Misogyny

hauntedvamphotel's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent

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

astridmalmhester's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Ableism

Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, and Classism

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Death of parent