Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

141 reviews

iamaprettyflower's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was dark and utterly heart-wrenching. 

The story was unique and I loved the exploration of Istanbul.

The only part that I didnt like is that Leila didnt get justice for her murder. We get extra scenes with the murderes in the drive through, but after that, this part of the plot seems to get forgotten.

I'll definitely be exploring this author further!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Transphobia

Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail

dandelion_lea's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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A book unlike any others I have read before. The characters were unique and realistic. The way the book was formatted really helped to absorb me into the story. A book I would recommend any adult reads

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Murder, Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Dysphoria

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

4.0

emotional 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

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I was immediately entranced by 10 Minutes, 38 Seconds. For a novel that centres on death it is brimming with life, and Leila's determination to live it while she can on her own terms.

I loved the structure, how each minute after Leila's death brings a sense that evokes a new memory, and we build a picture of her life. But I was glad to get to the next part because I so wanted to learn more about the five, and I was thrilled they took such a big role in the end of the book. The found family and their adventure borders on the ridiculous, which lightens the mood when it's badly needed. And reminds the reader to find the joy.

Emotional, evocative and beautifully written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Transphobia, Murder

angorarabbit's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Two sections, the first is the memories of a woman living in Turkey, from birth to death. The second is the events that happen after. 

 

The characters are well developed and believable. Descriptions of places, food, and people are vivid. The writing is Booker worthy. It passes the Bechdel-Wallace Test. I really loved this book and don’t know what else to say. Just read it yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racism, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Grief

Graphic sex work.

megsiobhan's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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This is the second book of Elif’s that I have read and I just love how she has a unique…twist on these stories.

And just like The Island of Missing Trees, this had me just as emotional. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

nbeurskens's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

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Heart wrenching, beautiful. I don’t have much to say about this book that isn’t positive. This book had a massive impact on me, and moved me to no end. I don’t have the words to coherently explain my thoughts on it right now! Too much emotion! 

I read this in three days. Shafak is a truly magnificent writer. The only reason I didn’t give it the full 5 stars was because I LOVED part 1 and then didn’t feel as engaged at the start of part 2. However, by the end I was completely invested again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence

arleen's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark inspiring reflective medium-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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment

myriambarriaultf's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Police brutality, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol

sydsqu's review against another edition

3.75

dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Heart-wrenching and oddly comforting.

This feels like two books: the first half tells the story of Tequila Leila’s life and death, one minute at a time. The second half… well, I won’t spoil that. What I will say is that I, like others, struggled a bit with the tonal shift in the second half. But I liked the overall messages about found family, justice, finding peace when life is just truly, deeply unfair, and what it means to know and love a person. 
Content warnings for sure apply here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Murder

Moderate: Miscarriage, Religious bigotry

reixma's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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: No

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I started reading this book and then slowly began to dislike it, but that was down to how the main character was treated (even though she was 5-6 years old!)

As the story progressed, I saw how the main character began to make do with what hand she was given and how she made friends. 

Those friends would then do what they could to help and support her.

By the end of the book, I really liked it and was a bit emotional about how it ended.

This is a hard read in places, and there are trigger warnings.

There are a few mentions of old words used to describe Downs Sindrome and transgender. Please be aware that those words are used in the correct context of the era they story is written in, although they are used today to be verbally abusive to those who those descriptors apply to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Slavery, Transphobia, Trafficking

Moderate: Transphobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Alcohol