Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

52 reviews

myking3's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Rape, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Murder

qkitten's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, and Racism

clpaige's review

challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Murder

emstewart23's review

emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

pj91's review

dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

catarina187's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-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

When I started reading this book, I didn't know what to expect, but it was a big surprise! The story tells us about two brothers who discover they have a sister, through a recording made by their mother before she passed. From then on, we began to meet new characters and their troubled lives, in a completely passionate way. We learn about Covey, whose life is fascinating, and we read about the way she dealt with an abusive father and she managed to turn her life around. Like Covey, we know other equally great characters, like Bunny, Gibbs, Pearl, among others, with whom it is impossible to remain indifferent.

The way Wilkerson writes about human rights, social inequalities, racism, parental abuse and such current climate problems is absolutely fascinating. I managed to get into the story from the first chapter, get involved with the characters, experience their lives with them and suffer with them. This is a moving, beautiful, surprising and real story. I absolutely loved it and I could not rate it any differently. 5/5⭐️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Racism, and Alcoholism

internationalreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.0

So much goodness in here. Lots of strands of stories odien disjointed but ultimately all woven back together. Could’ve used a better editor, but overall, an important story to tell.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Biphobia, and Rape

ptoridactyl30's review

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, and Misogyny

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, and Slavery

shelovedtoread's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I LOVED Black Cake. Like couldn't put it down, read it in two days loved. (And that wasn't easy at 385 pages!)
I'm not sure why I was so drawn to this book. I have nothing in common with any of the characters and couldn't relate to the majority of their struggles. Maybe that's the magic! Charmaine Wilkerson's writing was lovely and so easy to digest. The blend of fiction and historical fiction worked perfectly, and I learned a lot without intending to, or even realizing it. The plot was fairly predictable but I didn't mind that. Even with being able to guess what was coming, there still were enough surprises to keep me interested.
I'd highly recommend this book for anyone and hope the author is working on something new!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt