Reviews tagging Death of parent

The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates

10 reviews

vedpears's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Police brutality, Murder, Death, Racism, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Injury/injury detail, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking

Moderate: Sexual assault, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Death of parent, Cursing, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Gun violence

Minor: Gore

readbycarina's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, Violence, Slavery, Grief, Physical abuse, Confinement, Rape, Child death, and Torture

Moderate: Colonisation, Suicide, Racial slurs, Death, Stalking, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Trafficking, and Slavery

Moderate: Death of parent and Death

liesbethvv's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.0

As usual I dove into this book head first, without knowing anything about the genre or the themes, just because the author and book come highly recommended. 
I was completely surprised by the magical realism in this story and it took me a while to get used to it. Once I was on board with the concept of

Spoiler

conduction,

I was mesmerised by the rich language and strong characters Coates put to paper. Moving, propelling and highly imaginative, I enjoyed this ride out of my comfort zone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Slavery

Moderate: Torture, Racism, Racial slurs, and Grief

Minor: Sexual violence, Death of parent, Murder, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexism, Confinement, and Abandonment

gm_vak's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

adearen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, Physical abuse, and Trafficking

aardwyrm's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Trafficking, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, and Confinement

Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Death

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

What if the Underground Railroad had some help from incredible magic powers? Hiram Walker, a man born into slavery, finds his life unexpectedly entangled with the Underground when strange happenings in his own life catch their attention. 

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting, and the book really took a hard look at the lives of enslaved black people in US history. I also liked that the story worked magic into the amazing work of the Underground Railroad without being reductive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, and Slavery

Minor: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual assault

deepfriedaries's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This book tells an incredibly story of resiliency in the face of racism and the history of enslaved people on the deep south. It is a slow paced narrative, and I struggled to engage with the main plot given the main character spends a lot of time in introspective thought. I found the mysteries captivating, and what adventures there were, breathtaking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Violence

thevietvegan's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A beautiful and heartbreaking story (based on a true story) with twists and turns I did not expect, and magical elements that were delightful and powerful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Trafficking

Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Infidelity