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Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'
The Human Origins of Beatrice Porter and Other Essential Ghosts by Soraya Palmer
3 reviews
rltcoach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Parts of it took my breath away.
Parts of it filled me with rage.
Parts of it made me blush.
At least once, I was brought to tears, and at the end, I was left longing for another beginning.
I'm so glad to have experienced this one, and am looking very much forward to Soraya Palmer's next book of tales!
Graphic: Outing, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
the_true_monroe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The magical realism is used to address and emphasize experiences surrounding coming of age, cultural identity, gender and sexuality, racism, trauma and what I think was one of the most defining themes (as it interacted with each of the ones I mentioned prior): generational trauma.
I found this books thanks to Storygraph’s Around The World Challenge- representing Trinidad (this book takes place in Brooklyn, NY, Jamaica and Trinidad).
Definitely will be looking for more written by this author to enjoy!
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Death of parent, Cancer, and Abandonment
Moderate: Abortion, Vomit, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Murder, Torture, Dysphoria, Suicide, Dementia, Outing, Drug use, and Alcoholism
Minor: Pedophilia, Incest, Slavery, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Sexism, and Cultural appropriation
bandysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
This book is both similar and different from several books that I've previously read. In some ways, it reminds me of Maame, Black Cake, and a handful of other books. What's familiar is the exploration of a family and their immigration story. We see things through the perspective of the younger members of the family and not always from a place of understanding. Familial relations aren't always perfect and the parents don't always meet the needs or expectations of their children, but they try. We also come to understand all of the things the parents sacrificed to give their daughters the life they have.
Where this book is quite different to those that I've compared it to is in the elements of magical realism and folklore that are incorporated throughout this book. I loved hearing the different stories and how they blended into the reality that this family was living. I loved that the father was a major storyteller as it really helped me to understand him and the ways in which he views the world.
I also really loved learning a bit more about both Jamaican and Trinidadian culture. I've read a few books set in Jamaica or that explore Jamaican culture, but this was my first time reading a book about Trinidad and Tobago.
My only real critique of this book was that I did find that parts of it dragged a bit, particularly in the beginning. The book was a bit of a slow start and it took me awhile to fully engage in the things that are happening. I think that as the magical realism elements and self-identity discussions began to take place, I became much more invested in the book.
All in all, if you enjoy familial explorations, folklore, magical realism, and settings across the Caribbean and United States, you will likely enjoy this book. This was a very good debut and I expect that Soraya Palmer is a name you will be hearing more in the future.
As for the audiobook, I enjoyed the narrator and felt that everything was easily understandable. I am not the right person to judge the authenticity of the accents she did for the Caribbean characters, but to my untrained ears they sounded good and still quite understandable. I would definitely recommend the audiobook to anyone interested.
*Thank you to Netgalley, Soraya Palmer, and Dreamscape media for this audio-ARC. Reception of this ARC in no way affects the objectivity of my review.
Moderate: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Grief, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Classism, Death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Death of parent