Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The House of Eve: Totally heartbreaking and unputdownable historical fiction by Sadeqa Johnson

50 reviews

shawnna_reads2's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexism, and Alcohol

maddiet425's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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

4.75

Loved this one! I was nervous to buy it since I didn’t love Yellow Wife, but this one kept me interested throughout the entire read. I did find Ruby’s story more interesting than Eleanor’s, and the characters didn’t really develop, but overall a good read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Racism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual assault

bookdragon217's review against another edition

emotional informative lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

"It fired me up how easy it was for boys to slip away and the leave the girl with all the responsibility of carrying the baggage."

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson was absolutely fantastic. Historical fiction is my heart and this one did not disappoint. Johnson's storytelling is masterful and she weaves a story that wraps itself around you and beckons you closer. Both Ruby and Eleanor had unique voices and both their POV's were distinct and strong in presence. I was totally captivated by both their stories and how they eventually came to intersect. Johnson easily became an auto-buy after reading this one.

The novel was full of Black history in both Philadelphia and D.C. The story had elements of the Civil Rights beginnings blended in with women's reproductive history before the legalization of abortion. The story takes place in the 1950's when religion and "morality" rule and women are forced to take the blame for men's behavior. Black women have been at the center of these issues and had the harshest policing of their bodies since the very beginning. It wasn't surprising to read how the churches were complicit in forced adoptions and enforcing patriarchal beliefs about unwed women. I really learned a lot about these homes for unwed girls.

Johnson's writing style evoked so many emotions in me. Miscarriage and infertility are always hard topics  for me to read but Johnson's writing style provided plenty of opportunities to process some of the heaviness. I really appreciated that it discussed classism and colorism among Black elites, as well as, racism. This story illuminates the hypocrisy of religion and how it reinforces misogyny and blames women for the poor behavior of men. It also spotlights how girls are sexualized at a very young age and have their bodies policied and shamed but men can rape, commit pedophilia and groom young girls without repercussions. This is a perfect read for Women's History Month since Johnson brings to the light so much unknown history. 

Thanks to @simonandschuster and @tlcdiversity for the gifted copy. I know that this will be one of my top reads of the year. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Minor: Racism and Classism

mwetzel's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion

inked_in_pages's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, and Classism

jenbosen's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Trafficking

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

noble_editorial's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

This is an incredible novel! It's an evocative commentary on how class and race intersect, but also a stirring, often heartrending, exploration of motherhood. The history captured by the author is fascinating, as is her exploration of colorism within the Black community. It often feels uncomfortable, as it should. However, this book goes well beyond a searing critique of American society and norms in the 1950s; all of the traditional storytelling elements are equally strong, creating an immersive and emotional experience for the reader. The time period is captured exquisitely, there's a cast of complex but relatable and (mostly) likable characters, the story is perfectly plotted and paced, and the stakes feel real. This was a joy to read!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism

martachbc's review against another edition

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? No

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Antisemitism, and Abortion

mmrohbock's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

5⭐

Excuse me while I try to pick up the pieces of my heart and put them back together again. While not as heartbreaking as Yellow Wife, House of Eve proved to be just as emotional and these characters will also be living in my head rent free. Sadeqa Johnson is truly a powerhouse writer in historic fiction and I will read everything she writes. And hopefully convince everyone else to do the same!

I loved following Eleanor and Ruby's stories throughout this novel. It was so interesting because they were both similar class and aspirations, but had such different circumstances. I loved watching them both fall in love and became so attached that the characters that their heartbreaks became mine. Sadeqa's writing also spoke at such a higher level where it was easy to see how the past mirrors the present in several scary ways.

I learned so much about pregnancy and stigma and forced adoption and family life and nuances of race from this book that were all so important! I truly savored this book while reading it and it won't be leaving me anytime soon. This book is a masterpiece and if you enjoy historic fiction, you need it when it comes out in February!

And for those who read Yellow Wife, there's a reference to it at the end that's perfection!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Infidelity