Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Howards End by E.M. Forster

8 reviews

edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

This was actually not boring at all. I mean, maybe I'm being nicer just because it's a classic, but it was good! I actually liked it more than I expected, so in my ratings is 3 ⭐ 

It was an easy read, easy to understand. I had a difficult time at the beginning with the narrator because I’m not used to the British accent, but I liked how Steven Crossley did the voices and narrated the story. 

I started this classic not expecting much because I knew most of it would be just social life, people talking and about how some are rich and some are poor, and that’s exactly what I got. 

In my opinion, Margaret and Helen are characters ahead of it's time. It’s actually surprising to me to remember this was written by a man because the way the sisters behaved I kept waiting for some other character to call them out or make a big negative comment, but apart from some minor comments from Mr. Wilcox that didn’t happen and I’m glad.

My favorite one was Margaret definitely, she got married when she was around 30 yo (when that’s odd for women back then), openly saying she’s glad she doesn’t have children, was never afraid to say what she was thinking or be involved in topics not common for women or act on what she thought it was right.

(also when she threw the keys at Mr. Wilcox ready to leave his ass?? lmaoooo)

. But Helen also has some credit!

She got pregnant and yet she was not ashamed (as I guess it would've been the case back then)

, just ready with a plan on what to do next with the money she had. 

Mrs. Wilcox had some old ideas about women but honestly she was the only decent person in that family. Everyone else either did something bad or barely appears. Also,

fuck Mr. Wilcox for basically saying he cheated on his wife because he was bored.

I’m glad at the end

Margaret and Helen keep Howard’s End, is the least they deserve because 1) Mrs. Wilcox left it to Margaret in the first place and 2) Charlie killed Helen’s baby’s father.

I’ll be watching the movie starring Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter, and the tv show starring Hayley Atwell. I’m not sure when, but I’d like to see both adaptations. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent

There’s spoilers ahead, so read with caution:

Classism: Talk about the poor and the rich.

Sexism / Misogyny: This book was written in 1910, so… clearly some outdated ideas about women, but it isn't as bad as I expected.

Death of parent / Grief: Happens near the beginning.

Mrs. Wilcox dies leaving Charlie, Paul and Evie behind.

Infidelity:

Margaret finds out Mr. Wilcox cheated on Mrs. Wilcox years ago.

Pregnancy: Happens near the end.

Helen got pregnant.

Murder: Happens near the end.

Charlie kills Helen’s baby’s father.

lori3n's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Sexism, Murder, and Pregnancy

eve81's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism

bookish_bry's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

I think my rating for this might be a little low. I went into it with a very different idea of what kind of book it would be, and it didn't manage to grab me very well. If I read it again with the fact that it was meant to be a symbolic book about the changes in society around the early 1900s, I might have a higher opinion of it, but as it is, I didn't enjoy reading it very much.

I did very much like the ending (though that might somewhat be because I'd figured out the book by then). The characters were eh, but they did have some good development. I might try to read it again someday, but not for a while. It was hard for me to get through.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism

Moderate: Pregnancy

kerrence30's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

The epitome of the style of time in terms of phrasing and creating a atmosphere without words. Interesting how the themes of class and entitlement are explored. A much more relaxed view on society than early 19th century literature, and a strong sense of familiarity is created by the dialogue used.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Racial slurs, and Colonisation

mackenziem12's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Pregnancy

jbabbm's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Forster's writing is incredibly poetic, and his imagery is majestic. This book portrays the three different families in such a way that snares you as the reader, and it does a marvelous job at contrasting the traditionalist with the liberal. Forster says "Only connect", and I believe that we should listen to him.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation