Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

67 reviews

courtneydowney's review

emotional informative

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, and Classism

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

jedore's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

“Their hunger for books could teach them of a better life free of the hunger, but without food they'd never live long enough or have the strength to find it.”

This is a moving and educational work of historical fiction set in 1930s Kentucky. The story follows Cussy Mary Carter, one of the last living “blue people” of Kentucky and a dedicated packhorse librarian. As part of the WPA’s Packhorse Library Project, launched under FDR’s New Deal, Cussy rides through the rugged Appalachian terrain to deliver books and hope to impoverished families. Cussy faces prejudice due to her unusual blue-tinged skin (she's actually considered to be "colored" like her black neighbors) and her role as a working woman; her resilience and love for books help her to keep forging connections and transforming lives in her community. 

Kim Michele Richardson, a Kentucky native, is deeply connected to the region she writes about. She is also the author of a memoir, The Unbreakable Child, which explores her own experiences of abuse in a Catholic orphanage. Her personal history and love for her home state infuse her writing with authenticity and compassion.  

This book introduced me to two fascinating pieces of history I previously knew nothing about:  

1. The Packhorse Librarians: This program was part of FDR’s New Deal during the Great Depression and aimed to increase literacy in remote regions while giving people in need work so they could survive. The mostly female packhorse librarians rode miles on horseback, often through treacherous conditions, to bring books and education to families in rural areas who had little to no access to  them otherwise.  

2. The Blue People of Kentucky: Cussy Mary is based on a real genetic condition known as methemoglobinemia, which caused the skin of some families in Kentucky to appear blue. The condition, though harmless, made them the subject of ridicule and discrimination.  

While the plot was somewhat formulaic, I still enjoyed this book. The details about the packhorse librarians and the struggles of the blue-skinned people brought a new perspective on resilience, prejudice, and the transformative power of books.  

If you’re looking for a story that combines history, heart, and a unique heroine, this one is well worth your time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Medical content

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

Minor: Stalking

lillian_hallelujah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Classism

shh_reading's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

chocolatechump's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jcoanbrill's review against another edition

informative sad medium-paced

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

3.25

I found this one really hard emotionally, but the ending really brought it all together!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Incest, Vomit, Abortion, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

finessa's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.5

Mention of trigger warnings

Using the n-word with the hard r, twice in the last 5 pages or so of the novel just seemed extremely unnecessary & disrespectful. It changed my whole perspective, really.. But reflecting now, what else could I expect from a book that has a graphic, violent rape scene only 15 pages in..

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Vomit, and Stalking

emkschneider's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Incest, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

giraffefightinggravity's review

adventurous dark informative 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

2.5

It's a good book, it's just not my kind of book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Murder

Minor: Forced institutionalization

doublel11's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

It took me a little while to get into this book, but I ended up really liking it. Impoverished Appalachia is always heart-breaking, especially considering how the miners were treated, but there are lots of heart warming aspects of the community too. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Racial slurs