Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Awakening and Selected Stories

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin

7 reviews

summermorning's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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dee_dreams's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

3.5

The Awakening features a frustrating, unrelatable, though somewhat sympathetic heroine whose story is made entertaining through Chopin's rich, colorful, page-turning prose. Replete with words like "befurbelowed" and French phrases, & set within a dreamy picture of 19th-century Louisiana, it goes at soap opera pace. The plot is as entertaining as it is stimulating, watching how women's role in society has both changed and not changed. The way that characters of colors are left nameless and reduced to only descriptions of their skin is repugnant, as is the heroine's enormous privilege. Much of the dialog is comically overdramatic. I found it charming. The realism of many passages is natural and makes it a joy to read. I found myself thoroughly entertained overall

Spoiler

but deeply disappointed with the ending.

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commander_morgan's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective

4.5

4.5 for the Awakening only. The short stories fell a little short for me, but I absolutely loved The Awakening.

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vampyr's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

2.5

i am mostly fond of "the awakening" in this collection of short stories, it's the only reason i gave the entire book a rating higher than 1 star. there are plenty of interesting stories in here as well, but kate chopin's racism is very prominent throughout the book that it makes it difficult to focus on anything else most of the time (as expected from an author of this time period).

in my opinion, the only stories worth reading are the awakening, the story of an hour, & a pair of silk stockings.

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mirandanoble's review against another edition

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funny

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

Wow I love Edna. She’s a hoot. I laughed a lot. (Though I think this book is so much funnier in current context and much of what I laughed at wasn’t even actually meant to be funny) I want to read this book seven times all with different lenses and focuses. Part of me is like “woo girl power” and part of me is like “ohhh get this girl a therapist” and all of me is definitely not a fan of the way servants are talked about. Not cool. That’s why it can’t be 5 stars.

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caidyn's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Some stories were better than others. I thought that the titular story could have been slimmed down a bit because it got pretty repetitive. But, it was good. The short stories were also hit or miss. Désirée's Baby was my favorite one.

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caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I first read The Awakening in college and remembered it as a bold feminist story. I am now here, re-reading 30 years later and am happy to see that this novel stands the test of time. If anything, I now have a much more nuanced understanding of Edna Pontellier and what led her to make the choice she made. Edna Pontellier, I see you.

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