Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

Passing by Nella Larsen

6 reviews

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.

rieviolet's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

This novella packs a lot into a little more than one hundred pages. 

In the foreground there's race and the concept of passing, with all of its moral implications. I think the theme is explored really well, and through the different characters we can observe all of its nuances. 

The author is also good at delving deep into the main character's psychology. The relationship between Irene and Clare is fraught with conflicting emotions, and it is build upon in a very clever way until the shocking breaking point.

I really appreciated the themes and the prose, but I wasn't completely swept away by the story, hence the 4-star rating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Suicide, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

kayladaila's review against another edition

dark informative 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, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 - Look, you don't need me to tell you this classic is an excellent book. It's fantastic, full stop. It reads easily for an older book: I could not put it down.
- What I didn't realize is that it's also essentially a psychological thriller, as we watch Irene try to figure out why she's drawn to Clare, and as Clare takes ever more risks to insert herself into Irene's life.
- Also, big time queer subtext vibes in here. I'd love to see a retelling or adaptation that plays that aspect up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, and Alcohol

Minor: Hate crime, Slavery, and Antisemitism

obviousthings's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death and Toxic friendship

Minor: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Antisemitism

liteartha's review against another edition

4.0

this was incredible! and such a readable classic, too. larsen’s prose flows so smoothly and i found myself completely immersed. passing offers such food for thought on the intersectional issues of race, class, and gender. and that ending?! i’ll be rereading this one for sure, and annotating as i do

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death and Infidelity

Minor: Antisemitism