Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

5 reviews

inirac's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I enjoyed the forward by Zadie Smith as much as I enjoyed the story. I wish I'd listened to the story before the forward, but having an understanding of the context made it a satisfying read as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Abandonment

Moderate: Racism and Forced institutionalization

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

atamano's review

challenging dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Gaslighting, Classism, and Racism

Moderate: Bullying and Abandonment

melnally's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting, and Violence

annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.25

⚠️ i recommend reading the story before Zadie Smith’s introduction.
the story itself was thought provoking, really no flaws, it just wasn’t the most engrossing thing i’ve ever read, but i want to talk about the introduction. at first i was reluctant to read it because i thought it would contain spoilers (it kinda did) and because it’s as long as the short story itself. but after finishing the story i needed some context and explanation, and the introduction came through (without offering some “definitive answer”). it was interesting and insightful and made me appreciate even more the ever-purposeful Toni Morrison (this is her only short story?!), and the excerpt from her speech listing the steps for a racist society really resonated with me. most of all, i enjoyed the new perspective it gave me on the story: the “somebody” in everybody, the value of racially-defined experiences, and the commonality we all share as humans. here’s my take, for what it’s worth: the point is that Twyla’s and Roberta’s respective races are not meant to be concluded (that much is obvious), but overtly interchangeable—not just that readers may interpret it either way, but they should interpret it both ways, in every scenario, and see how the meaning changes. very good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Death of parent

f-slur out of nowhere