Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta

89 reviews

ni_07's review against another edition

emotional informative sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage

emmagiverny's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Homophobia

Moderate: Grief and Miscarriage

Minor: Sexism and Rape

loxeletters'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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Lesbophobia, War, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Rape, Racism, Grief, Murder, and Hate crime

artsyxbookish's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and War

rachbake's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Death, War, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia

go2hellstephanie's review

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

 What an amazing book.

Set during and after the Nigerian Civil War, Under the Udala Trees tells the story of Ijeoma, a lesbian during a time where it is not safe to be one. It is also a story about religion--the questions, the oppression, and the answers it holds. 

This book is beautiful. Okparanta's writing is brilliant and insightful, and I felt all of Ijeoma's emotions so strongly. I felt her joys and her tragedies, and I loved it all. Her major relationships--with her mother, with Amina, with Ndidi, with Chibundu, and with Chidinma--all impact her so deeply, and all were explored so beautifully. 

This is a lovely story of gay relationships and of religious trauma, but a religion that can also heal. One of my absolute favorite reads this year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Homophobia

Moderate: Rape

gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative fast-paced

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

3.25

I really enjoyed that this was a book that highlighted the interplay between religious bigotry and the LGBTQ community in a non-Western society. Ijeoma was a fantastic and relatable character, constantly torn between staying true to herself and the influences of her religious-propaganda-filled upbringing. 

I wish this book had focused a little more on the Nigerian Civil War, a event in history that was very new to me, but I also understand that this book told the story of the war from the lens of a girl who was growing up in the midst of its events. My only big complaint is that her mother

never faced any consequences for being a religious bigot and all-round awful person. Plus that Ijeoma never really reflects on her internalized homophobia as a result of her religious upbringing

 

Otherwise, I found Chinelo Okparanta's writing style easy to follow, and the story was captivating enough to propel me through the book. For those looking to read this book, I will warn that there are several unsavory topics discussed within and I would check out the content warnings prior to reading!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Minor: Violence, War, and Death of parent

lesbihane's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

an incredibly touching and sad realistic depiction of gay existence in a violently homophobic country but with a tiny, glittering glimpse of hope

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Hate crime, Sexual assault, and War

besnee's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, War, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexual assault

nonfictionfeminist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, and Religious bigotry

Trigger warning for conversion therapy in the home