Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Φιρντάους by Nawal El Saadawi

42 reviews

bookishbrenbren's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Hmm this is a hard book to review. I really admire the book and the story and Firdaus and yeah just the commentary it's making on society and the value of women. I think it's really powerful. I even like the flowery language and the circular events. I think it's a little daydreamy at times though. Like sometimes I just wanted to skip ahead of the la la la ness of the internal thoughts

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, Murder, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Incest, Abortion, and Gore

shinsreading's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It’s a dark, dark book. But I love it with all my heart.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

clairemarie00's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia

laedyred's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

The writing and literary devices. The powerful observations and fearlessness to say some hard truths. The subject material is hard to read sometimes, but is never used for shock value. A quick read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Incest, and Domestic abuse

lilaceous'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

4.5

characters - ⭐️

plot - .5⭐️

engaging to read - ⭐️

would recommend - ⭐️

would read again - ⭐️

this book was one of my favorites in high school, and i can see why. it’s a tough, thought-provoking, and moving read with a main character who is so important (even though she would hate to be described that way).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault

_itsmejay_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring tense 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? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Sexism, and Domestic abuse

suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

wow. it took me so long to actually read this book throughout the semester, since life got in the way. this is such an amazing book and a powerful exploration into radical feminism, especially stances related to sex and how that skews perceptions of women. in fact, throughout the text you'll see that exact weaving happening— how sex work and the typical narratives of "empowerment" often associated with it holds a perverse and ugly side that speaks to the wider society. words even fail me now to describe everything this book contains. really great and short (yet powerful) read, but dark, so please check trigger warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

dreamwifu's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective tense fast-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

4.5

such a compelling narrative to dive into. it is so short and easy to read while also providing a powerful presence of our main character, firdaus. it is very heavy, but if you can handle it, please give it a read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Incest, and Murder

Minor: Abortion and Trafficking

_fallinglight_'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Child death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Incest, and Pedophilia

k_kay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Such a brave beautiful exploration of feminism through Firdaus’ experiences as well as the impact she has on those around. Saawadi does not shy away from the short comings of feminism, particularly the illusions of autonomy under a patriarchal and classist society.
There were so many times I was angry and crying.
It’s not a hopeful read, but felt cathartic in its rawness. 
“For truth and death are similar in that they both require a great courage if one wishes to face them. And truth is like death in that it kills”

An incredibly emotional read, that I think speaks to experiences of many women.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, and Rape