Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Passing by Nella Larsen

68 reviews

secondhandreads's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

1.5

An achingly predictable plot and a flat-falling ending (no pun intended) the background of the concept of passing seemed to only have a passing relation to the plot of the story, though it gets brought up a lot. A lot of miserable people and unsympathetic actions, at least it's a short read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Infidelity

meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death and Infidelity

Minor: Suicide and Death of parent

rory18's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity and Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Slavery, Suicide, Antisemitism, Murder, Alcohol, and War

It's technically unclear if the character who died was murdered or not.

myclutteredbookshelf's review against another edition

4.0

Irene and Clare, my heart aches for both of you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic friendship

dexkit10's review

emotional tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Death and Toxic friendship

justcallmeemily's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-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

I have really mixed feelings about this book. And I can't really explain why. 😕

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Infidelity

booksillremember's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Masterful, loved the complex layering of emotions, themes and social identities. 

It's a gripping story with sapphic undertones, an unreliable narrator and an ambiguous ending. Would love to read the novel from Clare's point of view. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Hate crime and Infidelity

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Infidelity

wytnie's review against another edition

4.5

I liked the book i was mainly interested in it because I'm black and wanted to see how this subject would be addressed in the past. I think the writing was interesting given how old it is but not bad. Thinking about reading "quicksand" that's also by Nella Larsen. Lastly, idk if its just me but sometimes it kind of felt like Clare and Irene liked each other because at times it gave "ex-girlfriends who still love each other" instead of old kinda sorta friends.

I will say, personally i am so happy that who died in the end did, i feel like it was the only way for things to get better for literally any of the other characters, I also think its kind of what she wanted in her own way.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism

gracej66's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I enjoyed how detailed the descriptions of Clare Kendry were. Larsen really went into a lot of detail showing her odd mannerisms, expressions, etc. She also spent a lot of time describing the protagonist Irene Redfield’s conflicted thoughts and struggles. The plot, while relatively simple and short, was engaging and kept me turning pages. The immediate tension created by Clare’s husband not knowing of her Black ancestry got me hooked from the beginning. It was a pleasure to read Larsen’s indirect style of storytelling. She didn’t spell everything out on the page. Rather, she took her time hinting at what was going on and gradually clarified what had happened, such as in the last scene of the book or when Irene has a tragic realization about those around her. This book was intriguing, exciting, and artfully constructed. I hope to read another book by Larsen!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, and Suicide

Minor: Misogyny