Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

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

22 reviews

heatherr's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This was a very good book but it was one that was difficult for me to read. I have strong feelings about the subject matter and watching the characters make bad choices was getting me anxious and angry. 

I've never been a person who can understand why anyone would sacrifice their goals for sex. I know that probably makes me the strange one. But watching a character who has a way to go to college if she keeps attending a honors program risk it all to have sex with a guy before reliable birth control, was horrifying to me. 

Eleanor gave up her goals for a relationship also. She wanted to be an archivist. She was on her way when she ends up getting engaged to a man whose family and social circle hates her because she is middle class from Ohio and darker skinned than they are. She feels like she has to go along in order to be accepted. It makes her a doormat and I spent most of the book wanting her to tell everyone off. 

The book does a great job of comparing and contrasting the different social classes of 1950s Black society. Ruby is poor. Eleanor was considered comfortable in her home town but has moved to D.C. and meets the Black elite. They look down on her as obviously inferior. This confuses her because she has never seen herself in that way. It makes her lose all her confidence. 

Ruby is constantly being looked as a potential sexual conquest by men around her. She's a young teenager but isn't being allowed to just live her life. This quote hit hard. 

I turned my fork over on my plate wondering why it was always my responsibility to worry over what grown men might be thinking. I had been hearing it all my life. Even back to when I lived with Nene, as a flat-chested eight-year-old, I was constantly reminded to be modest. Not to leave the bathroom without my robe on when an uncle or cousin or friend of the family was at the house, smoking cigarettes and drinking beer.

I loved Ruby's aunt. She is a Black butch lesbian who takes Ruby in whenever Ruby's mother decides that she is tired of being a mother. That happens often enough that Ruby has a key to her aunt's house. Her aunt is also always on Ruby's side in the most practical ways. 

When I told Aunt Marie about my decision, she had the owner of Kiki’s draw up a contract stating all the facts and promises we had agreed upon. When she brought the papers home for me to sign, she explained her thinking. “White folk got short memories. This way there ain’t no room for funny business. Ain’t trying to go to jail for kicking a white woman’s ass.” 

Ultimately it was the realism of this book that made it hard for me to read. I just wanted better for everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment

eleasereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Abortion, Sexual content, Racism, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

micalyia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

I ate this book tf up. It was so interesting to me. I was hooked from start to finish, I wanted to know how Eleanor and Ruby would affect each other so badly and the twists and turn along the way kept me on the edge of my seat. 

I didn’t read the blurb so I really had no clue what to expect which I think helped in the intrigue of the story. 

I loved that we saw background on the characters as this helped them to feel whole. I was able to truly empathize and understand their decisions (even if I didn’t agree with them).

I would 100% recommend that you read the authors note cause when you do you’re going to want to cry for all the women this novel was inspired by.

This book could be highly triggering for some though, so check those out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Child death, Racism, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Medical content, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Rape

fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, Medical content, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy

Minor: Abortion and Suicide attempt

mermaidreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

This book made me feel anger for the black women and how they were treated during this time. 1950 not even 100 years ago.

The story ended how I expected, but the emotions of Elenor engulfed me and the rage toward William and his mother made me wishing she would escape it all with Bernie instead. I suppose her one sided view biased me as William was just hurt and human. I’m glad Rose came around, but it damn took long enough. Ruby’s story was traumatic and sad, I’m glad her dream to go to college and be an optometrist worked out, but at such great expense it was unfair. I hated shimmy’s mom and that house was horrific. I had no idea those were real places.

Overall a great book, with a hard look into the racist past of our country. Racism that is unfortunately still very present. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death, Violence, Rape, and Sexual assault

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

4.5

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

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

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

hillysreads's review against another edition

emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual harassment

jenbosen's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

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

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Content Warnings

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

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.

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Content Warnings

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