Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

13 reviews

cooldudenick's review against another edition

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Racism, Religious bigotry, Infertility, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexism, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction

zosiablue's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

First time I've read this and what fucking bittersweet gut punch. A perfect story about childhood and wanting time to hurry up and slow down at the same time. I want to hug this book. 😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

Minor: Abortion and War

alexashabit's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Classism, and Racial slurs

arguhlincozzi's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective 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

4.5

Would definitely recommend reading with a critical eye. There are racist tropes shared throughout the text, but clearly as part of the perspective of a white young woman raised by white immigrants in the early 1900s. The story is still interesting and well-written, and I enjoyed reading it immensely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Antisemitism, Bullying, War, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment

franklola's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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

Moderate: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Infertility, Addiction, Murder, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Antisemitism, Classism, Sexual violence, Rape, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, and Grief

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

One of my favorite books of the year and of all time. Francie’s story will always have a special part of my heart.
——-
“Let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me by cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry…have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or we’ll dressed. Let me be sincere-deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost.”- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Grief, Alcohol, Death, Alcoholism, Infertility, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

notartgarfunkel's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Medical content

Moderate: Murder and Gun violence

Minor: Racism, Antisemitism, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

theolivetree's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault

sjanke2's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, War, Classism, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Addiction, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Rape, Xenophobia, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Terminal illness

applesaucecreachur's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Not even sure what I can say about this book. I spent so long reading it during a very strange, turbulent time in my life. To be sure, some portions did not age well in both their language and their attitudes. Other passages, though, felt almost like biblical prescriptions. (Mary Rommely could sell me every single copy of a book she wrote on life advice.) Following a lonely, reflective, bookish protagonist as she grew more and more aware of the world was heart-breaking in the most unexpected ways. It made me want to cry, cheer, and scream with rage over the lot of women in a world built on our labor and suffering. Not a page went by where I wasn't rooting for the loving, gritty, and at times luckless Nolan family. I look forward to returning to this book as a time capsule of who I was when I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Antisemitism

Minor: Blood, Body horror, Gore, War, and Alcohol