Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

71 reviews

polkadots_pints's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

It has been an incredibly long time since I’ve read a story so beautifully crafted and that moved me so much. I confess, I don’t always get through the acknowledgments section at the back of the book, but the way Stringfellow writes not only had me reading the whole thing with ease, but also made me cry. Thank you to the author for exposing me and educating me on a world and experiences that is so real for many, and so different from my own. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and War

bintou's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, and Police brutality

atalea's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Infidelity, Blood, and Pregnancy

jazful's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The book "Memphis" tells an entertaining story with female characters who are likeable. Particularly impressive is the author's ability to describe the atmosphere of the South in the USA in different decades authentically and realistically. The detailed descriptions allow the reader to vividly imagine the scenery.

The plot deals with important and relevant topics such as the history of Black families in the South of the USA, segregation, police violence, racism, Black Liberation, family tragedies & crime in Memphis. But also Black love, hope, female empowerment, strength and the power of sibling love. The book is written from the perspective of women, which gives it a special importance.

But there are also a few points of criticism. Joan, who narrates in the first person, is supposed to be only 10 years old in the first few chapters, but seems far too mature and grown-up for her age. In addition, the time jumps from chapter to chapter are sometimes far too confusing.

Another important point is the lack of trigger warning. A sexual assault on a child is discussed on the very first pages. Other serious topics such as murder, loss, rape, domestic violence and racist slurs also appear, which can be very distressing for those affected.

One serious point of criticism is the author's unprofessional and childish behaviour in dealing with important reader feedback. Readers who raised critical points were dismissed by her (on Instagram) and sometimes even told that they had not understood the book. For example, almost all the male characters in the book were portrayed problematically. The author did not accept the discussion and vehemently disagreed that these characters were lovable.

It is very important to have an exchange and a critical discussion (not even really with the author, but among the readers), especially in a work that deals with so many complex and sensitive issues. I don't think I'll read another book by her if she writes another one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: War

Minor: Slavery, Blood, and Medical content

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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

3.5

It's an interesting intergenerational story of a family of black women spanning historical moments in US black history. Going from the 1940s to the 2000s, and told from 4 points of view. Beautifully written but at times confusing as sometimes it was difficult to know which person was narrating, as all timelines used the same terminology eg mother daughter sister. Hazel having the perfect black love and living through segregation, her daughters August and Miriam in the Dr King and Malcolm X era, and their children Derek, Joan, and Mia. Mia is the only woman's voice not heard, which is a shame. Loads of trigger warnings include racism, rape, domestic violence, gang warfare, gun violence, police brutality, to name a few. So it's more of a 3.75 stars, so I settled on a 4. A debut worth reading, beautiful if a tad confusing.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Pregnancy

paris_nicole's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? No

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. Is it written in multiple POVs (all females from three generations of the same family), in multiple timelines. The book addresses inter-familial trauma, while simultaneously acknowledging the racial history of this country and the atrocities faced by Black people. The story also celebrates the beauty of the Black community, specifically Black women, and their ability to hold the weight of the world on their shoulders.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Murder

lweezthereadrat'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Beautifully written prose that picks up generations of sorrow within the North family with a supreme tenderness that allows space for that horror alongside hope. I would flag that on page 8 there's an intimation of a very upsetting instance- whilst this isn't shown in the moment in detail, this instance is an inciting action for multiple plot points and it will be brought up multiple times. It makes for a painful read but the solidarity and sisterhood within this novel is also bolstering.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, and Police brutality

headachesince03's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

katewhite77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I Really Enjoyed This Family Saga

Memphis, as the tite would maybe suggest, is the main character in this book. As there is a polyphonic cast of characters.

This is the story of three generations of females in the North family.  The story starts in  the middle in the mid-90s and makes its way back through the 60s, when there was a colour bar in place, all the way 30s. The narrative ends in 2003.

The main themes of this book are race, violence, relationships, war, nherited trauma, and grief.

This is not an easy read, so check for trigger warnings if you feel as if there are a few. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Police brutality, and Grief

teeslooseleaf's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

The ending may be triggering for SA survivors.