Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

12 reviews

jedore's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

They knew our names and they knew our parents. But they did not know us, because not knowing was essential to their power. To sell a child right from under his mother, you must know that mother only in the thinnest way possible. To strip a man down, condemn him to be beaten, flayed alive, then anointed with salt water, you cannot feel him the way you feel your own. You cannot see yourself in him, lest your hand be stayed, and your hand must never be stayed, because the moment it is, the Tasked will see that you see them, and thus see yourself. In that moment of profound understanding, you are all done, because you cannot rule as is needed.

This is a beautifully written novel that tells the story of Hiram Walker, a young man born into slavery with a mysterious power called "Conduction." This ability allows him to transport across great distances, a gift that becomes essential as he gets involved with the Underground Railroad. The novel is an emotional exploration of memory, family, and freedom, set against the backdrop of the antebellum South.

Coates' writing creates vivid imagery and conveys powerful emotions without making being overly complex or difficult to understand. His account of the Underground Railroad offers insights into the courage and ingenuity of those who risked everything for freedom through a combination of realism and magical realism. I'm not a big fan of mixing magical realism with historical fiction, so the former was a distraction for me. 

Despite this, the story hit me hard. It's unfathomable that slavery was a reality, and Coates does not shy away from depicting its horrors. I was often flooded with empathy and outrage. There’s no doubt I would have joined the efforts of the Underground Railroad had I lived in that era.

This is a powerful and thought-provoking read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Slavery, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexism

mnatale100's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Kidnapping, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Alcohol

nehaanna's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective 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

4.75

The writing is evocative and intoxicating. While slow in some parts, the plot moves quickly in the last third of the book as the main character finally reaches his appointed destiny and in so doing, peace with himself.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-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

Felt the way I do when I read Toni Morrison.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, and Abandonment

cakrolik's review

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol

torturedreadersdept'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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

vedpears's review

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

---

Content Warnings

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

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

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

---

Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Infidelity and Pregnancy

rai's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious 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? No

3.25

I loved the final event and where everything drew together but it just was a very dense novel for me. It's a serious subject matter and culturally I can understand why it's becoming a classic but it's also a hard read. I'm glad I finished it but I wouldn't do it again.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, and War

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

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Violence

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, and Grief

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