Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

28 reviews

mazzeroo's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Grief and Religious bigotry

Minor: Emotional abuse, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

foulone's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Fire/Fire injury

sabs98's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Though this book focuses on the Punjabi community in Southall, England, the themes and traditions discussed are relevant to South Asian communities everywhere. The book is defined by: the heartwarming account of a young, female, second generation Punjabi immigrant finding community in an unexpected way; the empowerment of Punjabi widows, a group typically ostracized from their society, as they unleash their creative voices and acquire a renewed level of respect from others; the desperate and often disturbing lengths people will go to in the name of protecting honor; the way children of immigrants have to deal with the opposing forces of the Western lifestyle they grow up around and conservative or traditional ways enforced by their parents.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Rape, and Stalking

alishamegan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

Well there's a lot of stuff stuff I could say. Idk why this is tagged as lighthearted as it is not! 

Definitely makes me upset and angry, though I hope that things are not as dire for the women in the community as this book depicts, but that just be me trying to uncharacteristically optimistic about the lives and status of these women. I mean, there is a Southall Black Sisters for a reason.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

CW for honour killings in addition to mentioned triggers

kathrun006's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

The book is not an anthology. It is about women taking a creative writing class. Most of the stories they write in the class are erotic, but the plot of the book is not centered around sex.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Rape, and Sexual assault

This book deals with the theme of arranged vs. forced marriage so it contains mentions of forced marriage and child marriage. The characters who were married as children are adults and widows when the story takes place, but it is relevant to the story. The only content warnings which are described in a scene are fire and fire injury and interpersonal violence. The violence described is a man attacking a woman. I have included misogyny as an explicit content warning because it is a major theme of the book, but the book is mainly about women supporting eachother and finding their voices in a misogynistic world so do not think that the book itself is misogynistic.

diana_raquel's review

emotional funny lighthearted 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

“Out of all the opportunities Britain offered us, choice was the most important thing.”

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I didn't expect it to be one of my favorite books of 2022. I loved it! It's perfect!!! Totally recommend it!!

The plot and characters are well-developed and well-structured, and the plot twists happen at the right time, making the story truly interesting and entertaining. 

I may have been reticent, especially taking into account the hype, but I totally recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Hate crime, Infidelity, Suicide, and Xenophobia

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship

izbizedgerton's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

I really liked this book!!! I loved how it’s not really that hot- mostly just about sisterhood and expressing your sexuality as a woman. It was lighthearted, silly, and the ending was very feel-good. My only hang up was how did Nikki gain respect as a teacher and what teaching was she actually doing??? Seemed like she was there learning and honestly Sheena was the real teacher. I liked the threads of community gossip that culminated to a bigger plot line. I couldn’t predict it either, which I always love. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Rape and Death of parent

maxandrambo's review against another edition

funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape and Murder

questingnotcoasting's review

emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

I was expecting this to be a light-hearted read and while it was at times, it also deals with some heavy topics. There are themes of grief, misogyny and racism, as well as a mystery subplot I wasn't anticipating. These elements are balanced with funny and heart-warming moments though and I felt very immersed in the setting. I'd have liked to feel a little more connected to the main character because she felt a little surface level but I enjoyed it overall. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape

solenekeleroux's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Rape