Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

44 reviews

knitswhilereading's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Grief

Minor: Gun violence

polkadots_pints's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

5.0

It has been an incredibly long time since I’ve read a story so beautifully crafted and that moved me so much. I confess, I don’t always get through the acknowledgments section at the back of the book, but the way Stringfellow writes not only had me reading the whole thing with ease, but also made me cry. Thank you to the author for exposing me and educating me on a world and experiences that is so real for many, and so different from my own. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and War

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

3.5

It's an interesting intergenerational story of a family of black women spanning historical moments in US black history. Going from the 1940s to the 2000s, and told from 4 points of view. Beautifully written but at times confusing as sometimes it was difficult to know which person was narrating, as all timelines used the same terminology eg mother daughter sister. Hazel having the perfect black love and living through segregation, her daughters August and Miriam in the Dr King and Malcolm X era, and their children Derek, Joan, and Mia. Mia is the only woman's voice not heard, which is a shame. Loads of trigger warnings include racism, rape, domestic violence, gang warfare, gun violence, police brutality, to name a few. So it's more of a 3.75 stars, so I settled on a 4. A debut worth reading, beautiful if a tad confusing.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Pregnancy

paris_nicole's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense 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? No

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. Is it written in multiple POVs (all females from three generations of the same family), in multiple timelines. The book addresses inter-familial trauma, while simultaneously acknowledging the racial history of this country and the atrocities faced by Black people. The story also celebrates the beauty of the Black community, specifically Black women, and their ability to hold the weight of the world on their shoulders.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Murder

headachesince03's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

whatbidoureads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I believe this is my first 5 / 5 of the year, and it is so well deserved.

It took me quite a bit of time to finish it because it was just so good, I wanted to take my time.

Memphis is about 3 generations of women of the North Family, based in - you guessed it - Memphis, Tennessee. 

In this book you embark on a journey full of time-travel, immersing yourself in pivotal memories that resonate with triumphs, pride, anger, hurt, and love. A poignant portrayal of family, it serves as a compelling lesson on womanhood, discrimination, racism, and community.

The characters are brilliant, the scenery is so colorful and vivid it’s imprinted in my head. It’s a book full of life, and full of soul. It evoked a range of emotions, and worked my imagination in a way I hadn’t in a long time!

Thank you Tara for your writing skills, and for putting this book out! 

PS: I don’t know if there is a movie made but they need to make one, please and thanks. Ok bye!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Toxic relationship

teeslooseleaf's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

The ending may be triggering for SA survivors.

faedre's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

burnourhistory's review against another edition

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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Violence and War

anna_rubin's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and War

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent