Reviews tagging 'Death'

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

26 reviews

flowerowl's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad 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? Yes

3.5

Loved the beginning, it just crabs you and takes you in. Loved the way it every thing was told/expressed when Washington was a child. But them later on, around the trip in the ice, the writing kind of lost.

the disappearing didn't grasp me, it did not flow nicely with all the rest, the dead of the Father who was being sort of a jerk moved me more.

And so because of that I felt like I could not grasp the story anymore as in the beginning, which made the ending even more unsatisfactory and confusing. But maybe there is something I'm not getting (then please explain it to me). Maybe the feelings of not grasping it is exactly what your meant to feel, for it is what Washington feels the longer he lives; and if that is the case, then I (still) did not like that feeling, but then Esi Edugyan is also a really good writer!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide, Abandonment, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

steph_pollock's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.0

Here's an example of a book that I finished, and immediately proceeded to try and find out where the inspiration came from. Washington Black is not a true story, but nor does it make up any of the horrors experienced by the slaves at Faith plantation. Out of respect Edugyan does not shy away from these realities, and tells them as they were recorded in history.

But after Faith plantation the story examines so much more about the lives of freed slaves (either by emancipation or by escape). Wash is a beguiling character, and it felt palpable how he can't trust even the kindest gestures from strangers because of how he was born and raised. It seems that he takes years to feel safe even in happy moments, which highlights how high a price he pays for his freedom. 

The writing is raw and emotional, and veers often into the fantastical (hot air balloon journeys, voyages to the literal ends of the earth), with its characters as much as with the story. I'm not sure if it has a happy ending per se, more a determined one. But it was fascinating and immersive to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Suicide, and Death

Moderate: Rape

funktious's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

3.5

Not quite what I was expecting, but a good read nevertheless. I agree with other reviews that it feels like a book of two halves, that don't quite match in tone / pace. My favourite section was the one in Nova Scotia; I enjoyed the setting and the effect it had on Washington.

Also interesting to read a book with white abolitionists that also critiques them and their motives as well as the slavers. And the contrast between the white and non-white characters interested in science and living unconventional lives; how it's so much easier for one than the other, and made so much easier for one by the vastness of the slave trade and plantations providing the money.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

Minor: Sexual violence and Rape

ids100's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, Death, and Physical abuse

Minor: Bullying

cassornelas's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense

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

4.5

The story shows the brutality of slavery and the oppression that continues after it has ended. Even from those who were not necessarily eager to participate in it still benefited it and partook in some way. Im only giving it a five star because the last 70-100 pages felt like they were heading towards a different plot than the first part. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. But the book overall was a great en captivating read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Death, Slavery, Violence, Suicide, and Racism

stellarstar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? No

4.5

Brilliantly written, disappointing ending. Would have preferred more clarity. Ending is rather abrupt. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Gun violence, Trafficking, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Classism, Cursing, Sexism, Colonisation, Abandonment, Child death, Confinement, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism

Minor: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Eating disorder

bebidocrimes's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

3.75

You ever love someone so much you INVENT AQUARIUMS TO IMPRESS HER? It was a good read but it felt a little hard to care deeply about the characters, or maybe it's just that they were all kind of blunt straightforward people. After the narrative left Faith, I don't recall any other people of color getting very much characterization (the guides in the Arctic, any other Freemen in Nova Scotia, Titch's new assistant).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Colonisation, Cursing, Racial slurs, Blood, Grief, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, and Suicide

obviousthings's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Racism, Child death, Slavery, Violence, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Pedophilia

erynelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Suicide