Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

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

70 reviews

daniber's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Infertility, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Child abuse, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Blood, and Bullying

thissagreads's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

There were times that book moved slower than I’d like, and I felt that the characters held back in moments they could’ve spoken up about, but that’s the 50’s & 60’s unfortunately. Because the book is historical fiction, there was some insight and knowledge gained about the old catholic boarding houses for pregnant girls (including the coercive tactics). I think I wanted more happy for both characters, and at the I got that nice “happy ending” plot twist, but it wasn’t enough. 

Ruby becomes the doctor she dreamed of, while Eleanor raises her baby unbeknownst to the both of them.

 
All in all, I thought the story was a fresh perspective with the 2 character perspectives.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Racism, and Child abuse

Minor: Racial slurs and Abandonment

Ruby got pregnant by a white Jewish boy who’s mom offered her a scholarship for college if Ruby cuts off communication with her son, AND must stay at a boarding house while pregnant, and then give her baby up for adoption. Mom keeps end of bargain so Ruby unknowingly gives her daughter up to Eleanor and her husband the elite William who’s well know in the black community in DC. Eleanor has already lost 3 babies -before the baby can be brought to term- and her mother-in-law suggests adoption from the boarding house to William unbeknownst to Eleanor- and William suggests it to Eleanor who says yes even though she’s riddles with guilt and shame for not being able to carry full term.

princessblueyes's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and Child death

Moderate: Rape and Abortion

Minor: Emotional abuse

sway_reads's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Racial slurs

mcfeinics's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Racism, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Infertility, and Sexual violence

Minor: Confinement, Vomit, Rape, Alcoholism, and Abortion

squintingqueen's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

This book definitely pulled at the heart strings and kept me in my feelings. The author did a great job of pulling me in and giving me a clear understanding of the thoughts and feelings of the characters.

It not only showed the struggles of race/colorism, it shows how opportunities and treatment differ based on class/wealth which isn't unusualunfortunately.

I appreciated the journey I was taken on while reading for sure.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Infertility, Child abuse, and Classism

_sunnysans's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality

euleau's review against another edition

informative tense medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Abortion, and Racism

bgoodbookclub's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

4.5

I am typically not a historical fiction girlie but I read whatever BBBC tells me to and I loved this book! 

I do think that it went long in a few areas but overall, I loved how to the two stories intersected. They were both very different but similar.

I did not read Yellow Wife so I cannot compare this book to that one but I think Johnson is an amazing author and I would definitely read another book by her! 

This book is devastating and has a lot of topics around pregnancy and miscarriage so I would definitely check the content warnings before reading!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Miscarriage

Moderate: Racism and Abortion

annbleone's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Confinement

Pregnancy loss, forced adoption, rape, racism