Reviews tagging Ableism

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen

4 reviews

rebwenhall's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

I read this book when I was younger and I just re-read it. This book takes me through a roller coaster of emotions. I love the chapters of Jacob when he’s an old man and still has a love for the circus. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Ableism, Murder, Addiction, and Alcoholism

loedai's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Racism, and Ableism

planetshelf's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I don’t know whether it’s just because of who I am, but I don’t think this is very romantic. It is very centered around thoughts of sex and descriptions of bodies (boobs’ descriptions were weird and often related to acidic fruits and penises sounded repulsive) but doesn’t feel at all like other books I’ve read that are categorized as romances.

The way Jacob — 90 (or 93) — is written is wonderful. I don’t know exactly what elders think, but I grew up with grandparents as my guardians and I feel an oddly sentimental connection with the more utilitarian thoughts that were written.

I feel this may be worth mentioning: the author uses the official vocabulary when referring to a body. If that might be uncomfortable for you, you probably should let this one go.

Nonetheless, I liked it and thought it was a fun journey to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Antisemitism, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Animal death

Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Car accident, Confinement, Fatphobia, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit

elthechameleon's review

lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.75

Spoiler

This author didn't treat any of its characters well. Jacob and Marlena are positioned as the two most important, while Walter and Camel don't get any fully-fleshed out stories.  Their deaths were shocking, quick, and poorly done. It was truly frustrating, especially with the overwhelming attitude of privilege of Jacob Jankowski.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Car accident and Dementia