Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Swallow the Air by Tara June Winch

6 reviews

wetdirtreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective fast-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Addiction, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Animal death, and Racism

Minor: Police brutality and Suicide

tehcup's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Rape, and Racism

melodypowers65's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

3.75

Objectively, I think there is no doubt this is a very good and beautifully written book. The way it shows the intergenerational trauma of Australia's Indigenous people from the dispossession of their lands and the destruction of their culture was really well done. My 4-star rating is based on this.

However, my current mental headspace meant I struggled with the depictions of drug abuse, domestic violence and racism, and even with the very descriptive prose and changing timelines at times. The book doesn't solely focus on these things - it also has happy memories and beautiful depictions of country - but there was enough that I found it difficult to read as an "immediately before bed" book.

I would still recommend this book to people who would like to read about the continuing trauma faced by Australia's Indigenous people as written by an Aboriginal woman, but I will note that I preferred The Yield, Winch's other novel, purely from a storytelling perspective.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Racism, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual violence

penguinsquack's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Drug use, Grief, Racial slurs, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Rape, and Suicide

carleesi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.75

Heart wrenching, poetic, emotional, painful, soft. This book reads like a steadily flowing River, such beautiful prose that it often disguises the sharp rock that’s around the next bend.

This story is moving in a way that left me with a dull ache in my chest and a small flicker of hope. So beautifully written. Tara June Winch is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Racism

Moderate: Rape and Suicide

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Racism

Minor: Sexual violence