Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Violets by Kyung-sook Shin

12 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

peach_haze's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

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

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

lizzie_r's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-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? No

5.0

A devastating read, tender & keen. Invites the readers into the life, in vignettes, of a Korean woman muddling through childhood &  early adulthood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content

Minor: Child abuse and Alcohol

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

helenamarijke's review against another edition

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book confused be a lot. For some reason I had grand expectations. It was very slow, very top-layer while still deeply emotional. I was curious all the way through but also got a bit tired of the extreme slow burn and slice of life feel before the twist near the last part. Maybe I should've just read it in one sitting. But even though confusing and a bit tiring at times the ending (or the last third of the book after the twist) for some reason really got me. And the final scene will probably stick with me for a long time. Maybe Oh San's boring daily life was the point in the end

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Self harm

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Blood, and Stalking

biblioghoul's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty and Sexual harassment