Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - The Awakening and Selected Stories of Kate Chopin

Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Awakening and Selected Stories of Kate Chopin by Kate Chopin

8 reviews

mattiedancer's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

Writing: 4.5⭐️/5

This novel/collection of stories is solidly written. There are more than a few beautiful passages. I found the writing stunning, woven together in a wonderful way, and I always felt drawn into the world. The way Chopin frames Edna’s frustration in her life is beautifully done. I felt drawn into the mental state of this woman through the clarity of the writing, and I appreciated that deeply. I do think that sections were perhaps slower than necessary at times, and that pulled me from the story every once in a while.

Characters: 4.5⭐️/5

The characters are fantastically crafted. Edna in particular felt alive, with her dreams and hopes hanging in the balance as she attempted to discover her true desires. I actually enjoyed the characterization of her husband as well, as he tries (and fails) to understand what’s going on with his wife. My only complaint with the characters is that I would have loved a bit more space and time spent on her and Robert’s relationship.

Plot: 4⭐️/5

It’s a feminist story written potentially well before its time. I enjoyed the flow of events, and I was captivated throughout at various moments. However, a small complaint: I did feel lost at the treatment and story around Edna’s children. I felt like that kept pulling me from the story.

Who Should Read This Book?

Fans of classics
Fans of historical books with feminist twists
Those looking for a read dedicated to characterization and character growth.

Content Warnings?

Suicide, drowning, infidelity, sexism, racial slurs, racism, alcohol

Post-Reading Rating: 3⭐️/5

The end was a bit mixed for me.

Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5

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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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alexashabit's review against another edition

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reflective 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? Yes

3.75

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fernbomb's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed the writing, and the look into the past that this book provides.

However, this book has received and does deserve much criticism. A perfect example of white feminism, it is at times infuriating to read for the extreme cognitive dissonance that would have been required to advocate for liberation for rich, white woman but none for other oppressed people at the time. It’s wild to me that Kate Chopin could examine the systems that oppress her, but be completely blind to the systems that oppress others, which she directly benefited from. For example, the servants and caretakers are rarely ever mentioned by name in the book, but are instead mentioned by their racial classification at the time.

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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.

Content Warnings

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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elisamorvena's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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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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