Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Violets by Kyung-sook Shin

15 reviews

jayisreading's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

I don’t think I was in the right headspace to read and appreciate Violets to its fullest, because I really struggled to get through this novel. I found the pacing a bit too slow, and the ending threw me off a little. I also couldn’t wrap my mind around a particularly sad story at the time of reading. There’s a lot of quiet grief in these pages, and I will say that while I did have some trouble reading this novel, I did appreciate the reflective nature of the novel in thinking about suppressing queer desire, feeling isolated in South Korean society, and existing on the margins, all of which is further complicated by being a woman.

On an unrelated note, hats off to Anton Hur, as always, for a phenomenal translation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, and Blood

shadannn's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

This rating wouldn've been lower if not for the epilogue and author's note. Most of this books was no plot just vibes except the vibes were.. just not it. I can appreciate the author's intent in writing this book, I just think that considering her inspirations, it could've been done so much better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Dysphoria

notesofacrocodile's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

this to me is one of those quiet novels; a silence suffused with something heavy and tragic, a silence punctuated only by the whooshing of the minari in the winds and the occasional murmur. i enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the concept of san as a character: doomed to repeatedly find herself sabotaging her own situation, the hollow winds of loneliness thrumming just under her chest.

"where the minari grows, this scene i kept only to myself, her dry lips, a soft joy, the deep green spot, i will love you more than myself—these are where the letters blur."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Misogyny

erindb's review against another edition

reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

maverick_arlen's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Rape

katialena's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Blood, and Kidnapping

Major character death? Ambiguous.

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

1.75

i dont think violets is for me. as a whole, the story and themes of shin's book are v much valid: a tale of a young woman stumbling thru city life, working at a flower shop while still beholden to her past trauma and dealing w/ shitty men.

i think the use of flowers and planting as a metaphor and stylistic tool in the novel's interesting and has great potential, however in its current form it unfortunately skewers the story's narrative form. shin's execution renders the book a meandering slog to soldier thru esp in the beginning, one whose focus shifts between the flowers and san's mental state, and when all's said and done, that doesnt make for an enjoyable reading experience for me, despite how compelling it can be at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Infidelity and Terminal illness

hannah_cogo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

soffemf's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.25

It was a bit too descriptive imo, that it became unnecessarily long. It has an impactful ending; the type of book you would need to read again  to achieve its impact. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and War

novantithesis's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt