Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

101 reviews

anna_catherine73's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

Literally my favourite book I have read so far this year. Such a rich cast of characters that feel so real from Bennett’s writing. Brit Bennet is a superb author, I would read anything she writes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Abandonment

Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Dementia, Death, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, and Grief

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexism, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Hate crime, Dementia, Terminal illness, Bullying, Classism, Medical content, and Sexual content

bek_p87's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

I want to say I enjoyed this book, but I don't think enjoyed is exactly the right word. It was intense and emotional, and yet not quite as intense and emotional as I thought it might be. It was excellent and very well written, although there could've been more signposting re: dates of some parts of the narrative. Even so, this will stay with me for some time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Racism

Moderate: Drug use and Transphobia

Minor: Medical content

abbyb23's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense 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

5.0

This is just such a beautiful book. I didn’t know about the trans rep before starting this book, but it’s so amazingly well done, especially as representation that lets a queer person be more than their identity. Bennett is truly an incredible author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Death, Hate crime, Racism, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Dementia, Medical content, Alcohol, and Transphobia

This book uses the n word multiple times, both as a slur and in historical context. (The author is a Black woman). Racism is the central theme and racist actions are described in detail at many points.

mjones14's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-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

1.75

This book sent me into a massive reading slump. It took me 4 months to finish and I nearly DNFed it. 

HOWEVER, I can appreciate that it is beautifully written, it was just not the book I thought was or a book that naturally appeals to me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Transphobia and Dementia

Minor: Grief, Bullying, Stalking, and Medical content

notartgarfunkel's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, and Abandonment

Moderate: Medical content

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dementia and Racism

Minor: Hate crime, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs

ruthmoog's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

I was excited to read this based on the blurb, but it wasn't what I expected at all. Sister Sister it is not!

The reality of colorism and racism is laid out in the pages, and the impact of Stella's decision is greatly felt by her family, especially the children - who's own stories make up about half the narrative, if not more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Pregnancy and Gaslighting

corriejn's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.5

Mid-century story of several generations, the plot centering around identical twin teen girls leaving their small, isolated southern town of fair-skinned Black residents and how they carve out their own paths from there (one deciding to pass as white). Multiple generations of the family play a role as major characters, and it includes main themes of race/racism, colorism, family/relationships, and gender.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Medical content

innastholiel's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Abandonment

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Physical abuse, Bullying, Death of parent, Hate crime, Violence, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Sexual content

Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Dysphoria, Medical content, Rape, and Sexual violence