Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Swallow the Air by Tara June Winch

9 reviews

misty_kb's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Death of parent, and Colonisation

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Suicide

erinjade_3's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

So beautiful! One of my favourite books I read as part of my school syllabus. Grateful for that as I probably wouldn’t have discovered it otherwise, but it definitely inspires me to seek out more stories like these. And this is one of those stories that leaves a profound impact on you. Jacaranda Tree was my favourite short story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Addiction and Death of parent

thebookcident's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexual violence

tinkamasala's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Grief

wetdirtreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Racism, Rape, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide and Police brutality

tehcup's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape

melodypowers65's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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? No

4.0

Objectively, I think there is no doubt this is a very good and beautifully written book. The way it shows the intergenerational trauma of Australia's Indigenous people from the dispossession of their lands and the destruction of their culture was really well done. My 4-star rating is based on this.

However, my current mental headspace meant I struggled with the depictions of drug abuse, domestic violence and racism, and even with the very descriptive prose and changing timelines at times. The book doesn't solely focus on these things - it also has happy memories and beautiful depictions of country - but there was enough that I found it difficult to read as an "immediately before bed" book.

I would still recommend this book to people who would like to read about the continuing trauma faced by Australia's Indigenous people as written by an Aboriginal woman, but I will note that I preferred The Yield, Winch's other novel, purely from a storytelling perspective.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Rape

Minor: Sexual violence

penguinsquack's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent

carleesi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.75

Heart wrenching, poetic, emotional, painful, soft. This book reads like a steadily flowing River, such beautiful prose that it often disguises the sharp rock that’s around the next bend.

This story is moving in a way that left me with a dull ache in my chest and a small flicker of hope. So beautifully written. Tara June Winch is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Racism

Moderate: Rape and Suicide