Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior

8 reviews

karaokestar's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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: Complicated

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This book is a reflective take on historical fiction with a mix of magical realism. 

The story is about the bond of two sisters and the history of abolishment  of enslaved black farmers in Brazil. 

I really enjoyed this book and the relationship of the two sisters. This book was a realistic take on Brazil’s history of slavery and racism. I really like the elements of mysticism/magical realism that creativity enhances the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Dementia, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy

ameliasbooks's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark informative mysterious 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: No

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I don't really know how to review this book. Very unusual story, a bit slow in parts, but very powerful overall, with well developed female characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Colonisation

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty

sadhbh2525's review against another edition

3.75

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: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Medical content

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abortion

alexhaydon's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad

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This novel was such a lovely mix of mystery, historical fiction and insight into the descendants of slaves in Brazil. The writing while simple was extremely evocative of place and emotion. I’m keen to continue with the series when it gradually gets translated. I think the first 2 parts were definitely stronger than the last, it attempted to tackle numerous themes, some stronger than others but I highly recommend it. Faith, family, spirituality and generational story telling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

frozenheartv's review against another edition

3.75

emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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3.75 stars 
🌕🌕🌕🌖 

🧠 My thoughts 

The book was powerful, moving, meaningful, and heart-wrenching in some parts that raised a lot of emotions in me. The book had 3 parts, and each part was told in a different POV. I enjoyed looking through different lenses of different characters. For me, I liked part 2 the most. The first part built a good solid ground for the whole book and it sparked interesting details to hook the reader to continue reading. 

I think part 3 should be the punch line to wrap up the whole book but unfortunately, it might be the weakest among the parts. It wasn’t weak in meaning, it was packed with important messages but I found the execution wasn’t strong enough. Symbolism was one of the most important parts of this book. I understood some of the symbols but not all and most of the symbols that made me feel lost were in part 3. 

👍 What I like 

• Powerful and important messages
• The second part is written beautifully

👎 What I don't like

• The execution related to the symbols isn’t done as well as I expected. I am lost at the end of the book because of that and it leaves me a bit disappointed

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape

Minor: Murder

ruairim95's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, Murder

davethescot's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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: Yes

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What a fabulous novel, originally published in 2018 and translated last year, 'Crooked Plow' by Itamar Viera Jnr is the magical and social realist story of two sisters who are tenement farmers in Brazil. Absolutely wonderful.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism

alana_aestanteinvisivel's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Abortion

Minor: Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Colonisation