Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Woman of Light: A Novel by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

63 reviews

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

I read the audiobook and if that's accessible to you, I highly recommend that format. I was fully engrossed in this multi-generational tale of an indigenous Chicano family in the West from the 1800s to the 1930s. I am not typically pulled towards historical fiction, but I think me loving this is a testament to someone adoring this who is not a huuuuge historical fiction reader!

This book explored so much, and mostly focused on Luz, who lives in Denver, and like most of the women in her family, has the gift of sight/clairvoyance. She works as a tea reader and seamstress, and I thought the illustration of the racism, sexism and misogyny she experienced was done mindfully. I loved the magical realism elements of this for their family. I appreciated the exploration of what it means to be family, how community helps you through hard times, and though there was so much pain and loss, I felt the story ultimately left me hopeful because of the family/community narratives.

a content warning expanded/explained: KKK presence in Denver 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

pinkrain718's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

ckingcolorado's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Enjoyable historical fiction centering the Latina/Indigenous experience in CO in the mining/early modern eras. It adresses the racism and misfortune embedded in the rapid expansion of the West and also offers sweet details of a woman coming into her own as she discovers her family's past. Ooh and the main character is a fortune-teller.

laurao's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

mlashley's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

thenovelmaura's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Highly recommend the audiobook of this one! I continue to be a huge fan of Fajardo-Anstine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Miscarriage

spongebobbiii's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

rcd229's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

3.75

I liked the interplay of all the different character's lives and histories, but although they do all tie together, it feels a little unfinished or maybe not completely satisfying, like those binding ties or transitions are just glanced over too quickly. I wish Luz's gift had been developed and detailed more instead of just glimpses of time that don't feel like their whole stories are ever told.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

waderlustleisure's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia

seraphimgt's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Beautifully written and well researched. However, it felt like there were too many storylines and not enough resolutions

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder

Minor: Child abuse