Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Passing by Nella Larsen

17 reviews

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

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

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

jessthanthree's review against another edition

emotional 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death and Infidelity

Minor: Death of parent

ohgull's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This book was like a race focused version of the Great Gatsby. It has a lot of the ideas of that book and is set around the same time. I liked the psychological elements of the book, but the characters got on my nerves a bit. I loved the ending, it was so crazy and shocking! All together kinda eh, but still overall ok.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Outing

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Murder

aquakirst's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Minor: Death and Death of parent

chelseareads's review against another edition

challenging dark informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

4.75

Did not expect this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

ginzura's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

katievh's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Murder

megelizabeth's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

"As far as I can see, you’ll just have to endure some things and give up others. As we’ve said before, everything must be paid for."

This is an incredibly dark, bleak book that wasn't at all what I was expecting it to be and which I found to be an equally fascinating and highly uncomfortable read. 

Irene and Clare are both very intriguing, layered characters and, through them, the story really gets to the heart of complex, toxic, and ultimately tragic female friendships. It's really a story much more about such friendships, about the fragility of marriage and relationships, and about societal and gendered expectations (and the mental distress these can cause), than it is about race and 'passing' (though there are still of course important conversations on these topics).

At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the very abrupt ending, but I was certainly floored, and ultimately I do think it's actually a really great ending and definitely one that I won't forget. The story as a whole in fact will definitely stick with me; it covers so much ground in so few pages and is just brutal and brilliant, and unfortunately remains so relevant.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Death of parent