Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Violets by Kyung-sook Shin

11 reviews

peach_haze's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

shadannn's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

This rating wouldn've been lower if not for the epilogue and author's note. Most of this books was no plot just vibes except the vibes were.. just not it. I can appreciate the author's intent in writing this book, I just think that considering her inspirations, it could've been done so much better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Rape, Child abuse, and Suicide

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

1.75

i dont think violets is for me. as a whole, the story and themes of shin's book are v much valid: a tale of a young woman stumbling thru city life, working at a flower shop while still beholden to her past trauma and dealing w/ shitty men.

i think the use of flowers and planting as a metaphor and stylistic tool in the novel's interesting and has great potential, however in its current form it unfortunately skewers the story's narrative form. shin's execution renders the book a meandering slog to soldier thru esp in the beginning, one whose focus shifts between the flowers and san's mental state, and when all's said and done, that doesnt make for an enjoyable reading experience for me, despite how compelling it can be at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Infidelity and Terminal illness

hannah_cogo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Sexism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Police brutality, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Violence, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Rape

soffemf's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.25

It was a bit too descriptive imo, that it became unnecessarily long. It has an impactful ending; the type of book you would need to read again  to achieve its impact. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

lizzie_r's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

A devastating read, tender & keen. Invites the readers into the life, in vignettes, of a Korean woman muddling through childhood &  early adulthood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexism

Minor: Child abuse and Alcohol

novantithesis's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

helenamarijke's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

This book confused be a lot. For some reason I had grand expectations. It was very slow, very top-layer while still deeply emotional. I was curious all the way through but also got a bit tired of the extreme slow burn and slice of life feel before the twist near the last part. Maybe I should've just read it in one sitting. But even though confusing and a bit tiring at times the ending (or the last third of the book after the twist) for some reason really got me. And the final scene will probably stick with me for a long time. Maybe Oh San's boring daily life was the point in the end

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Self harm

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Sexism, Stalking, Alcoholism, and Animal cruelty

biblioghoul's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Self harm

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexual harassment and Animal cruelty

heartcolored's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I fell in love with the beautiful prose as soon as I read the first chapter. The author describes everything so vividly it felt like I was watching a movie. It's a slow burn but it never felt dragging because the writing is so beautiful. It's the kind of book that will linger in your mind for so long even months after reading it.

I was utterly surprised by the ending and this is the first time I've encountered such a bizarre and unsettling  way of dying. I feel like I won't be able to forget the ending even if I want to. Also, the ending further fueled my hatred for men. Seeing the photographer and Choi Hyunli live a normal life as if they didn't ruin San's life (who's now buried in the soil like the plants and flowers that she used to tend at the flower shop) angers me so much especially because it really happens in real life.

 
There are women out there whose trauma (caused by men) are only buried and repressed. They never see the light of day and that's the painful truth for the victims of assault, misogyny, and abuse. Lastly, I like the metaphor of the violets and the author's afterword made me appreciate the story even more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Death, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, and Rape