Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Lost Shtetl: A Novel by Max Gross

5 reviews

libraryfrog's review against another edition

4.5

Very excellent story telling and insight. Dark and gritty, honest and doesn’t shy away from showing the problematic aspects of many aspects of society both Jewish and goyish. Definitely modern Sholem Aleichem vibes, I really appreciated the nods to Yiddish storytelling. Worth the read because it makes you think and tells a winding story you won’t forget. I read it in smaller chunks because it is heavy. 

(All the content warnings for this one, just all of them, including many uses of the G word for Romani people, which doesn't have a specific indicator here.) 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and War

Minor: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping

tlaynejones's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.0

I alternated between thinking this was an easy five star read, to thinking I’d resent even giving it a three star rating. Back and forth. There is a great story here, it just meandered too much at times. The author included a lot of side stories, recollections, and layers of perspective. These were all interesting, but when added together they slowed the pace and distracted. 
I also wasn’t thrilled with the portrayal of women. This is harder to critique because of the portrayal of a culture I don’t know much about, but it left me feeling frustrated. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Antisemitism, Trafficking, and Classism

sarah984's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

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

1.5

The voice in this is super fun and parts of it were genuinely affecting (I loved the story about the "heroic" census taker, and the schism in the town between the two Rabbis who had heard the story of the Holocaust as children was devastating). The book was way too long, though, with a lot of wasted page time, a pointless ending, and terrible writing about women.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Stalking

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Rape, Islamophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

readingrainbot's review against another edition

challenging dark funny sad slow-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, Trafficking, and Grief

adriennne's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Genocide, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Trafficking