Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

61 reviews

feelincelestial's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

A very engaging read, left me wanting more of these women’s stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

boop123's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

If I Had Your Face tackles on the prevalence and normalization of plastic surgery in Korean beauty standards, the inherent misogyny that exists in Korean society, and the value of women to settle down and have children despite the declining economy. Not much plot goes on here and it is definitely focused on character analysis of each woman who are struggling with their own thing given their socioeconomical climate but is still somehow intertwined with each other proximity and emotion wise.
 

Despite the thought-provoking insights you can dissect from this book given that a subject like this is very common in today’s society, I still find some of the characters underdeveloped. Shoved aside for the most part and is only remembered in the end. Specifically, I find Wonna’s character to be underdeveloped and there’s really not much to work with her as her struggles seem to be straightforward and concise. Though she has a few chapters dedicated to her and her history, it honestly doesn’t give that much to the table unlike Kyuri and Miho. 

Anyways, if you’re looking for a more character-driven story, I would recommend this but I wouldn’t read if you’re not a fan of alternating POVs (especially with a lot of characters). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying

siebensommer's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Miscarriage, Sexism, War, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

beeanka_reads's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, and Alcohol

rionstorm's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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? Yes

3.75

A kind of sad, kind of gentle slice of life. I wish the book was slightly longer, so we could have seen a bit more of what the girls lives are like once they've all had their development arcs and become more intertwined in eachothers lives.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Sexism, Medical content, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism

daniellekat's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

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

2.25

This was the definition of OK. I didn't hate reading it, but nothing about it was particularly compelling. The author made some strange choices in the writing and structure of the book (i.e. no Sujin POV, ending the book mid way through the cycle of character POVs, so many odd paragraph breaks, etc.) I thought the general content of the book was interesting, especially since I'm far removed from South Korean culture, but I felt like Cha was trying to cover too many topics. As a debut the writing was solid, but the overall book could have been more tightly edited. The open-ending makes me wary of recommending this but I'd probably pick up Cha's writing again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Death of parent

sex work

marleen02's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing

• 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kerrence30's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Insightful look into a concept of room girls which I was not previously familiar with. Beautifully written and despite some characters making choices you may not agree with, you are rooting for them equally. A touch on the expectations of Korean culture for context, it highlights how some aspects are both widely accepted to exist and yet unacceptable to partake in.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

michelle_bernice92's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide

sangsmiles'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse