Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

La mala costumbre by Alana S. Portero

6 reviews

paloma_sanchezh's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

minniepauline's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

4.0

This book is a beautiful portrait of a time and a place, as well as being a beautiful and painful coming-of-age story. The unnamed protagonist is a little girl in a little boy’s body, who watches and learns from the women around her. Five at the beginning of the novel, as she grows and her body develops her experience of her life begins to split more firmly into two pieces. In telling her story, she describes the people along the way who have helped her to define herself, either by giving her examples of ways she’d like to be, or by pushing her firmly back into her closet, as she says. She is a keen observer, and her language, poetic and lyrical at first, becomes more clear as she becomes more clear in herself. 

I feel that I’ve gained a lot of insight into what it’s like to grow up as a trans woman. Especially in a working-class neighborhood in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. As painful as it is, at times, to read, it’s never over-the-top or gratuitous, but simply feels true. 

There is no plot here, and I think a little bit of one might have helped me to feel less bogged-down toward the middle of the novel, but the beginning and end make up for it.

Thank you to HarperVia for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

alice_alice's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, and Domestic abuse

torismazarine's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Rape, Murder, and Lesbophobia

soparosa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Man, i don't like rating anything with 5 stars but this book definitely deserves it. Read it if you're in the mood for crying, if you are trans or know someone who is, if you're interested in Madrid, if you're currently making an effort to see a light at the end of the tunnel, or if you just feel like it. Any reason is a good reason to read it because whatever your motive is; it will speak to you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Deadnaming, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Dysphoria

danidamico's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Quedé absolutamente enamorada de este libro. Es una novela compuesta por diversos fragmentos y escenas de la vida de nuestra narradora, una mujer trans que creció en el barrio obrero de San Blas (Madrid) durante los años 80s y 90s. Nos va llevando de la mano, nos invita a recorrer sus experiencias en distintos momentos de su vida. La narradora ya sabe desde muy pequeña que es mujer, pero debe atravesar un proceso de muchos años hasta poder aceptarse a sí misma y mostrarse abiertamente ante un mundo que puede ser tremendamente cruel. Algo que amé de la novela, además del hermoso estilo de la escritura y la sensibilidad que transmite, es el hecho de que es diferente a otras historias trans - travestis que he leído. En primer lugar, trata sobre una mujer trans a la que le cuesta muchísimo poder aceptarse, algo que siento que no se ve tanto en libros, series o películas, y por otro lado, si bien el libro tiene sus momentos tristes, evita caer en la tragedia total. La mala costumbre es un libro muy luminoso que elige terminar en una nota de esperanza, no sin un gusto agridulce, pero definitivamente lejos lejísimo de la miseria definitiva, de lo desgarrador sin salida. Sufrimos junto a la narradora, pero sabemos que va a estar bien. La abrazamos en su dolor y ella también nos da algo a nosotros, nos rodea con su calidez. Nos comparte su historia.

Alana Portero escribe con una pasión y una vulnerabilidad increíbles, logra mezclar un universo poético y mítico con la vida coloquial del barrio. Y este texto no es sólo sobre la protagonista, esta es otra cualidad preciosa que tiene: un espíritu colectivo. También es sobre las Margaritas, las Eugenias, las Paulas, los Antonios y los Jays. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia

Moderate: Cancer and Police brutality