Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

105 reviews

onemorechap's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

2.0

FIRST TIME READ
I'm so sad I didn't like this book... I think you understand this feeling, when there's so huge a hype about a book that you need to like it as much as everyone else does... But unfortunately not all the books are for everyone.

LIKES: I can't deny the fact that the background of the writer of this poetry collection is something that may appeal to people, because it contained descriptions of some intimate moments, while it also came up with the delicate issue of rape and relationship problems. I accept this. I try to be open minded, but I can't include myself in this group of people. As for the cover, I have to admit that it's classy and plain in the best way.

SO HERE IS WHAT I ACTUALLY THOUGHT OF THIS

DISLIKES: First of all, when I read something, I need it to be as classy as art has to be. For me poetry is something that should raise awe. People adore this book so much that I mistakenly thought it would be like this. But to me it was like a soft porn novel :( ... Personally, this isn't something I can accept, especially from poetry... While there were some poems that really touched me... the rest of them were closer to reading a grapic harlequin rather than to a sophisticated piece of art... All this lust was too exaggerated for my taste, and even though it may indeed be realistic, it made me feel awkward because I'd rather not have read it...

All in all, it was a read I wouldn't recommend

Rating: 2★/5★


SECOND TIME READ

I first read Milk and Honey in 2028, drawn by the immense hype surrounding it. I approached it with high expectations, but I was left disappointed and unsettled by the taste it left behind. Today, I stumbled upon the book in my bookcase and decided to give it another try. People grow, perspectives change, and perhaps this time, I thought, it would speak to me differently. Unfortunately, it didn't.

The book is divided into four parts, each dealing with a different emotional journey.

The first part, The Hurting, focuses on abuse, particularly sexual and domestic violence. I'm not sure if the author herself has experienced such trauma, but she conveys these experiences with an intense realism. The depiction of sexual assault within the domestic environment is both raw and painful, leaving a lasting ache in your stomach. While difficult to read, it's a necessary confrontation with such delicate and important issues.

The second part, The Loving, was just as disappointing to me as the first time I read it. I found the sexual content unnecessarily graphic and deliberately provocative, which, in my opinion, detracts from the poetry's artistic quality. The vivid descriptions felt excessive, lowering the impact of the work as a whole. This section remains my least favorite, and I struggled to find any appreciation for it.

The third part, The Breaking, stood out as my favorite. This section resonated with me more deeply, and I found myself underlining several passages. There’s a vulnerability here that felt genuine and impactful.

Lastly, The Healing, felt flat to me. It didn't evoke any strong feelings of like or dislike, leaving me indifferent.

Overall, reading Milk and Honey for the second time reaffirmed my initial feelings. Though Rupi Kaur tackles significant and difficult themes, the way they are presented didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped. Some parts were powerful and memorable, but others, particularly the over-graphic elements, left me feeling detached.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

cookie_lover's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

2.0

To be fair, I’m not really a fan of romance poetry. I was going out of my comfort zone and became discomforted.

Only one of the poems in the whole book resonated with me. If it wasn’t such a quick read I would’ve dnf’ed. The kindle edition formatting is horrible, too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infidelity

peachie_pie's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

akousar's review against another edition

fast-paced

0.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence

books_tea_and_candlelight's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse

leechachatotheright's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

This is my second read through of this book. I would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy reading poetry. There is a rawness to the way the words are written and how the story is told between the sections of the book that I find so sad yet hopeful. It is probably also very relatable to lots of women just making their way through life. It is bittersweet. 

I've also read Kaur's "the sun and her flowers" and I would say I prefer "milk and honey" if you want to read more on love, loss, heartbreak, and self acceptance. "The sun and her flowers" is a poetry collection that is so much more graphic and deals with sexual trauma, which may be a triggering. "Milk and Honey" discussed these topics as well, but it was not the main focus in my opinion nor as detailed.

The 4 was because I'd recommend the book and that .25 was how much it resonates with me, I cried the first time I read it.

Note: I haven't read "the sun and her flowers" in 5 years now so my comparison might be off. I'm just going based off what I remember from reading the two books back to back at that time.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

The trigger warnings I put are because there are some hints to these topics in the poetry and they might trigger people even at a mild and non-descriptive mention.

wad3mil3sgarru2's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

alisharose's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

lala_reads_too's review against another edition

slow-paced

0.25

Not 
poetry. 
Just words 
and cringy
 “art”
Written like this.  

With drawings 
That
My
12 year old 
Cousin 
Could draw. 


Such a waste of paper. 
Think about the planet 🪐


- LalaReadsToo

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicidal thoughts