Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

72 reviews

iheartchickenss's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kdawg420's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Wow. I'm usually skeptic of a book that has near-perfect ratings, but this masterpiece fully lived up to the hype in every way. I can't shut up about it! Thrilling plot, courageous characters, demonic villains. This book is categorized as "horror," but the true horror is reflected in the evil humans that played a role in perpetuating the suffering of children. The Reformatory is a larger book (almost 600 pages), but you will fly through it. This is a book that every person who calls themselves an activist for racial justice needs to read. I will keep The Reformatory on my shelf forever, and recommend it to anyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

pages_with_a_preoccupied_prin's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Wow. This book is something else. I couldn't put it down and will have a book hangover, for sure! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would!
The story telling from the off was well paced and immense. The characters were so well developed that if you told me they were real people, I would believe you. The story itself is harrowing but needs to be told. There is the perfect mix of historic relevance, horror elements, and intense stress. 
Gloria, Robbie and Miz Lottie were so loveable as characters that you want the best for them throughout.  Tananarive does an incredible job of focusing on the main characters, whilst introducing plenty of important side characters, but doesn't draw the story or focus to them too much. 
The books pacing was perfection. I could read this book over and over again and not get bored. It made me cry, had me on the edge of my seat, and so stressed I couldn't concentrate on anything else, and I frequently gasped aloud on my commute. 
The fact that this is based on pieces of real history is so sad and it made me so angry that we live in a world where at some point in history this level of horrific treatment of humans was acceptable, and what is more terrifying is that you can still see aspects of it today.
Tananarive Due has an incredible piece here, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone.

I'm gutted it's over to be honest. What. A. Book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

mintii's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

This book is a powerful read set in 1950s Jim Crow Florida, masterfully portraying the harsh realities faced by Black Americans. The narrative is both dark and deeply emotional, drawing you in as if you’re watching a film. Robbie and Gloria, the main characters, are vividly written, embodying the innocence and complexities of childhood. Robbie’s observations reflect a childlike wonder, while Gloria’s fierce protectiveness and impulsiveness keep you on edge. The author captures their perspectives beautifully, creating a compelling and haunting story that resonates long after the last page. Highly recommended for those who appreciate profound storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Sexual violence, Slavery, and Classism

slimshaedy92's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

5.0

the review is just me sobbing uncontrollably really

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Moderate: Hate crime and Rape

becinneverland's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

kaylinvm94's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Grief, and Death of parent

joymargot's review against another edition

5.0

I chose this for my October reading list because of the ghosts but it’s so much more than a ghost story and horrifying in a totally different - and tragically accurate - way. It’s a long and brutal read, but an important one. I was utterly gripped and stayed up late to finish it as I couldn’t sleep not knowing how it ended!

Great characters and such a powerful story but check those content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

flying_monkeys's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Antisemitism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and War

callme_tippy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-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

5.0

Heartbreaking & beautiful, I loved this one!

Ever since I read "I, Tituba" I have been more open to historical novels and ever since I read Tananarive Due's short story collection I have been wanting to read more of her work. This book was the perfect combination!

This is not an easy read, it is heavy and challenging to get through but Due knows exactly how to pace a novel to give some let up right when you think you cant take anymore. I think the decision to have this told from 2 points of view was genius, in that it provided that "let up" with a POV switch right when it becomes too much. 

I am a big fan of horror and it seems that I will become a big fan on Due as well as this provided everything it needed to and more and was a beautiful and heartbreaking tribute to her great uncle. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment