Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Дівчина, жінка, інакша by Bernardine Evaristo

41 reviews

prideandparchment's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Slavery

hannahbailey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this! What a cracking book, I can't believe I didn't read this sooner.

Generally I prefer not to read character-vignette novels written in third-person. But this novel just goes to show that when done well, I can really enjoy them! I loved the distinct voice of each character and how they would be name-dropped in one chapter only to be the main character of the next one. It built such an interesting and creative narrative without leaving me feeling I didn't know enough about them–which is usually the case for me with character-vignettes.

Surprised to see some reviews stating the character dialogue and mix of poetry/prose was hard to believe and unrealistic. I completely disagree! The inner dialogue of the female characters was relatable and familiar. I enjoyed the exploration of womanhood and motherhood and how this intersects with race in Britain. It was an interesting and sobering read.

It was almost 5 stars, but there was a part where the character overcomes drug addiction by sheer willpower–they literally stay at home for a week without any form of support and somehow recovers? This didn't feel realistic to me especially given the vulnerability and young age of the character. That said, this was one of the chapters that really stood out to me in its exploration of body/gender dysphoria and trans joy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Classism

lilacwhisker's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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

Absolutely loved this book!! The writing style can be a little difficult to get at first (there’s no periods or quotation marks) but after you get used to it it’s great. Very emotional and often hilarious.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Police brutality

thedisabledreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

emilo's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

5.0

2022:absolutely solid. i really liked how everything tied together 

2024:
I do really like this book a lot, it’s probably one of my like most favourite ones and i did almost cry. 
i do like bernardine evaristo a lot but she did kinda fumble the trans rep. like using characters deadnames, not understanding why we don’t differentiate between medically and non medically transitioned people, not like completely getting trans women and i dunno i would have liked her to write about more about the intersection of race and being trans, which she didn’t really get. that said for a cis woman she really *got* the feelings of a non binary/trans masc experience, and you can tell she did her research. 
but i think that it would have helped if one of the other main characters was a trans woman because like it would have been good to see more of the diversity of womanhood. and then it’s like why include morgan? like they are only included in this book because they are afab. and they clearly have a difficult relationship to being assigned female at birth and it was hard for them. 

also!! in the dedication of lgbti but not lgbtiaq is wild. like cmon mate. asexuals and aromantics and agender people exist. it’s silly to do the rest of the letters and just forget us. also womyn is transphobic. 

that said!!! this book ends on a conclusion of inclusion with amma encouraging domique to be more inclusive in her feminism and in her lesbian festivals. 
i do rlly like this book and like again clearly the author put a lot of research in esp if she’s not queer herself. 

also!!! why r they all in england??? like scotland is sm fun 

anyway i love this book a lot 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Drug use, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Classism

sophiemundy13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

4.25

Difficult to begin with because of the unconventional writing style but really interesting once you get into it 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Abandonment

Moderate: Deadnaming, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

Minor: Slavery

missbrookss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

maiahhtratchh's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

3.25

I loved the characters and, even when I didn’t necessarily love them, I felt like I could understand them better. I found the pacing of the book, and how disjointed it was (stylistic choice not a writing error), was difficult for me to get into for long periods. It was very ebb and flow interest. I basically had a hard time getting into each new character but as soon as I was in it it would switch to someone else. It was a good book, it just wasn’t necessarily my favourite. I have listed A LOT of trigger warnings, however, it being a social commentary, they are used to explore the nuances and intersectionality between race, class, sexuality, and gender and do not overpower the commentary. However, I LOVED the ending and epilogue. It was so emotional and that was probably my favourite storyline.

it also answered my main question of how Penelope fit into the story, beyond working with Shirley. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Miscarriage

Minor: Cancer

Child sexual abuse, adoption trauma

parasolcrafter's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Grief, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment

anapthine's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny informative 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

Really enjoyed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Cursing, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, and Abandonment

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol