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helenaps99's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence
emrosch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The language is poetic, raw and honest. The story is emotional, painful and important.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
jling09's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Grief, and Murder
ssinforshort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Though the subject matter is tough, Toni Morrison writes so beautifully. Sometimes I had to take a little pause, but the story stayed on my mind and I had to return.
When everything is revealed it got a little confusing (done purposely), but I wish it was a little more clear.
I kept returning to the ending. I know I'll read this book again.
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Animal cruelty
aisclaradm's review against another edition
- 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
Bleak and chilling without descending into trauma porn, with an excellent plot. The prose is so beautiful that I had to adjust in my head what I understand “good writing” to be.
Overall a magnificent book.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
yourbookishbff's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy
brieflyblue's review against another edition
- 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
The content is often graphic and heart-wrenching. The list of potential triggers could be a mile long. Still, it was worth every second I spent reading it.
The characters felt so real. Despite them living totally different lives from my own, I felt I could understand why each of them felt and acted the way they did.
I look forward to reading the rest of Toni Morrison’s books.
Graphic: Confinement, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal cruelty
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
also the way she contrast the horror with little moments of like, sunlight?, like happiness (the iceskating or shadows holding hands etc) was so so so wonderful
'"its gonna hurt, now," said Amy. "Anything dead coming back to life hurts."'
'it never looked as terrible as it was and it made her wonder if hell was a pretty place too'
'she swallowed twice to prepare for the telling, to construct out of the strings she had heard all her life a net to hold Beloved'
'she will forgo the most violent of sunsets, stars as fat as dinner plates and all the blood of autumn and settle for the palest yellow if it comes from her Beloved.'
'Paul D believed he smiled back but his face was so cold he wasn't sure'
'He could not say to this woman who did not squint in the wind, "I am not a man."'
'He knew exactly what she meant: to get to a place where you could love anything you chose- not to need permission for desire- well now, that was freedom'
'How fast had he moved from his shame to hers. From his cold-house secret straight to her too-thick love.'
'The world is in this room. This here's all there is and all there needs to be.'
'I couldn't lay down nowhere in peace, back then. Now I can. I can sleep like the drowned, have mercy.'
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
janainthebooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail