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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The Stone Virgins is a slim book that demands the reader’s attention. It’s a slow, challenging, yet very worthwhile read set against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s civil war following independence. Vera’s writing was stunning, lush and poetic. One moment she was giving the reader very panoramic and cinematic descriptions of a place; the next she was narrowing in and drilling down on some horrific violence and trauma. In some ways I found the book slippery and elusive, with switches in time and of perspective not being well-signalled. It was a story that focused on tone, atmosphere and emotion. The feelings are often clearer than the details and physical reality, which rings true given the chaos and trauma of many of the events depicted. However, the message of the book was anything but slippery - the horrific impact of war, particularly on women. The novel centres on two sisters, Thenjiwe and Nonceba, but also highlights how the fighting impacted soldiers who committed atrocities, the land and rural communities. The perspective of Sibaso was well done, explaining and providing context, but never excusing his actions. At times this was a very brutal read, so I was relieved that the ending offered a glimmer of hope that survivors like Nonceba and, by extension, the country as a whole, can recover from the trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, and War
ae_young's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Medical content, War, Medical trauma, Murder, and Rape
lonnahroyale's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
This is a really beautiful style of writing but very triggering for people who are sensitive to descriptions of witnessing a loved ones death. The pov from the murderer was chilling but his backstory of war really shed light to how war really doesn’t bring anyone honor, it just gives people trauma, addictions, or makes them violent. This takes a bit of research in what the stone virgins were to realize the sexism in war that it is pointing out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Sexual assault, and War
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