Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Beloved by Toni Morrison

219 reviews

ssinforshort's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

A book can be both haunting and enchanting. Beloved proves that. 

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. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

aisclaradm's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional 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

Had to reduce my ratings of other books so that this one could stand out as probably the best book I’ve ever read, or close to it. 

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. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced
  • 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? Yes

5.0

This is a book that will need to be reread. 

Masterclass in how to write characters and consciousness, the characters feel so real. Quite honestly I feel like Beloved was haunting me what I finished. 

This is a messy but completely honest story, that is not told enough post slavery. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

falun's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad tense 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

4.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

yourbookishbff's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • 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

Who am I to review Toni Morrison. This is a classic for a reason, and a second read of Beloved (the first as a baby high school student) gripped me. Morrison is unparalleled in her use of sentence-level prose to convey deep trauma.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

brieflyblue's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad 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
This book was intriguing, revolting, inspiring, horrifying, and utterly captivating. I finished it in just a couple of days.

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.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

swampgrandma's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sillycreature's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I have no words. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bmorelibrarian's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • 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

If you haven’t read this book yet, read it now. Morrison uses poetic language and supernatural elements to emphasize and reckon with the trauma of slavery. Brutal, necessary, and beautifully written.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

readingwithgoose's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

5.0

(reread) I didn't fully appreciate this book the first time I read it, about 8 years ago, but this time it took my breath away. This is imo one of the most heartbreaking and important works of fiction ever written. It reaches down to your soul and makes you feel the characters' despair so vividly. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings