Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey, Jennie Godfrey

6 reviews

rosecott's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Such a clever story. I loved the characters, they all felt completely believable and real to me. Miv was so relatable, throwing me way back to what it was like to be 12 albeit in a much earlier decade! I also utterly adored Sharon and her beliefs in what was right. 
This book made me laugh, and also broke my heart. 
If you’re into true crime, then this was a fascinating look at the Yorkshire Ripper case from a completely different angle but also done in a sensitive way I feel. 
Lots of dark themes explored but also somehow lighthearted and through the innocent lens of a child’s eyes. 
Absolutely sobbing as I got to towards the end though. 
I didn’t expect the turn of events at all.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Racism, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Pedophilia, Islamophobia, Bullying, and Child death

whatnovareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This book- wow. Heartwarming and Heartbreakingly brilliant, I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want it to end ♥️.  

The novel is set in a small Yorkshire community in the 1970s where two school girls are trying to catch the Yorkshire Ripper. Whilst compiling their list of suspicious things, they discover the hidden secrets and goings on in the lives of their neighbours, teachers and  parents. This is a tender coming of age story about friendship, grief and prejudices. It is told with warmth and sparks of humour that bring the characters to life, the sense of time and place is so perfectly conveyed that I think I was actually there myself. 

An awesome debut by the very talented Jennie Godfrey and already looking forward to the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Racial slurs

aileensbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Murder, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Racism, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, and Death

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism

rosecahill's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Islamophobia, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Death

Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Rape, and Suicide attempt

emmavardy2's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-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

5.0

Absolutely lived up to all the hype.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Sexual assault, Murder, and Pedophilia

gemloukay's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Having grown up in Yorkshire in the early 1980s, this book encapsulates the era and the area perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the “Thatcher milk snatcher” comments that still get bandied about today, and the references to a couple of real landmarks in Dewsbury. 

The story mainly follows Miv, a 11 year old girl (at the start) who decides that she’s going to note down anyone that she thinks is suspicious and therefore could be the Yorkshire Ripper who is in the loose and she believes might lead to her family moving away to escape the danger. What Miv actually achieves is to give us a naive insight into the lives of everyone around her and their everyday struggles. Because we can understand what she does not, it softens the blow of all the tragedy and pain that everyone is going through. 

The way that school is for Miv and how the teachers talk to her and her friends, the casual (at best) racism that is everywhere and the attitude of looking the other way when people are struggling that are still apparent in some ways even today. But also the strong sense of community and how they all pull together when someone is actually asking for help. It really does showcase the worst and best aspects perfectly. 

It’s a cleverly written coming of age story told mainly from Miv’s POV but occasionally interspersed by a chapter from Mr Bashir the shopkeeper, Helen the Librarian, Arthur the rag and bone man and Miv’s dad Austin. Everyone feels well fleshed out and with their own personality and take on things. And unlike the book that Miv’s friend, Paul, is reading part way through (a Kestrel for A Knave), it has an enduring feeling of hope against all odds.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Racism, Bullying, and Suicide

Minor: Hate crime, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny