Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

2 reviews

madmantha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective 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

4.75

One of the best books I’ve ever read, if not THE best. 
Thrilling, anxiety-inducing, emotional and yet hilarious at the same time. 

Can’t wait to suggest this read to others, I loaned it from the library but will definitely be purchasing my own copy. This is something that deserves to be remembered and celebrated for years to come. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Slavery, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

n_asyikin_'s review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

A thriller with a twist, having a unique take on the horrors of the gentrification of a primarily Black neighbourhood. The book should appeal to fans of the thriller/horror genre, but it brought with it a different approach to the genre by exploring it through racism & its many facades (e.g.,  microaggression, policing, systemic racism in housing, etc) which allowed readers to face the horrifying reality of these human rights' abuses to its victims.

The story was written evocatively, with the narrators state of mind being the central voice that coloured my perception as I was reading it. I found myself anxious when Sydney was anxious;

questioning, when Sydney/Theo was questioning their own perception particularly in scenes where their accounts could be considered unreliable, e.g., being drunken, or under influence of medication.

I think Cole's writing would not only roped you in by empathizing with the characters, you'd also experienced exhilaration & even disbeliefs as more mysteries were unraveled.

I think one of the main takeaways was that evil came in many different forms, & often, those who perpetrate them don't appear monstrous. Murder might be the most extreme form of violence, but this story highlighted the need to not overlook the less corporeal or physically "gory" aspects of discrimination & bigotry. If any, it should be talked about more due to its insidiousness, & subsequent long-term consequences (as reflected through the history Sydney stipulated for her tour).

That being said, some may perceived the ending with incredulity, particularly with the number of people involved in the conspiracy. But I think it was an ending fitting for the story; the antagonists should be considered as both a manifestation & carricature of systemic racism. For me, that was what made the story more effective; even with the tangle of conspiracy, it never felt farfetched. In fact, it made perfect sense.

'When no one is watching' is thrilling in every sense of the word! One of the best from the genre that I've read in recent times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Forced institutionalization