Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Impatient by Djaïli Amadou Amal

17 reviews

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

 The Impatient is a novel from Cameroon which explores the issues of polygamy and forced marriage through the experiences of three different women. The realities of not being permitted a choice in who you marry, in having your husband take another wife and being expected to welcome and train her, of arriving in a strange home and being subservient to and subject to the whims of a first wife who resents your presence, of having no rights or fallbacks if your husband becomes violent - all these and more are canvassed in this short but impactful story. The women resisted, fought back, and tried to gain agency, not always in admirable ways. But in a situation where they have no rights and no protections it is easy to see why they may have made the choices they did. A powerful read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

year23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

5.0

It’s hard to put into words the emotions this book evokes - rage, despair, hatred, agony. I had some notion of the practice of forced marriage and polygamy but this was one of the most raw portrayals of its damage and tyranny over women’s lives in this region (Camaroon). Your heart will break. I know these stories will stay with me for a long time. 

But what stands out to me maybe most of all is this title, and it’s resonance in the way each woman chooses to fight back, to reclaim her self, her place, her choices. They are each impatient in a world determined to erase them with the command “Munyal”.

There’s so much to unpack in this short book - it’s so clearly an important text. I highly recommend though do check the content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Blood, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

lindcherry's review

challenging dark sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Miscarriage

big_mom's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, and Rape

Minor: Drug use

r_p0llux's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse

196books's review

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

morybaby's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Miscarriage

pyronautphea's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder

lana_mc's review against another edition

dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Rape

vordersg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape