Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Tar Baby by Toni Morrison

11 reviews

culpeppper's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

Too many shifting perspectives for me, but I love stories that amp up tension that results in many dramatic confrontations. There's truly delicious tension between all the characters, and though I didn't love all the aspects of the story, I really appreciate the greater narrative at work here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Minor: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Slavery, Death of parent, and War

readingwithgoose's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Rape, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

This is my second Toni Morrison read and I cannot say I am disappointed! The other reviewers are right, this is something of a "love" story, but in a very traditional Morrison style. She asks us many questions and spans through many topics, not at the least confined to Black masculinity and femininity, love and relationships, nature versus the patriarchal domination of such, civility and order, and a kind of eerie transcendentalism (that somehow seems more realistic than that of Thoreau and Emerson). One of the things most shocking about this book is her depictions of abuse and violence, which definitely slows down the pacing of the book and merits a lot of praise. There are also some great lines in there such as "at some point in life, the world's beauty becomes enough," though it takes a bit to get there. The only critique I have seen regarding this text is one that is a staple in Morrison's texts: just when you think the book should end, she somehow manages to add another 50 pages of thoughts, feelings, and emotions (which often either circles back to the beginning of the book or merely seems to weave in something of her own thoughts). And with the other reviewers, that is also my critique of this book. 

All in all, it is a wonderful book (though not my favorite of hers), and a part of me cannot wait to read and read it again! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Rape

lilaceous's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

characters - ⭐️

plot - ⭐️

engaging to read - ⭐️

would recommend - ⭐️

would read again - ⭐️

so good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Transphobia

aliciawithoutkeys's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Sexual harassment

michaelion's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-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

This is what those trendy bisexuals wish they mean when they say "he was written by a woman." Son is the only man this could ever apply to!!!

Something clicked for me as I was reading Song of Solomon, that I think really unlocked whatever was holding me back from fully understanding Ms. Morrison's books. Or maybe I just didn't like her first two, but something definitely clicked midway through the third. The same thing sparked again very early into this fourth book, and again I knew I'd love it! Ms. Morrison don't miss!!!

Spoilers for the end,

I like that they didn't end up together, but only because I'm a sucker for people returning to their roots, especially so if the roots have something to do with nature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Rape, Transphobia, Stalking, and War

amerikanerin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse

nappyreadjojoba's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Colonisation

magicalsocks's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

4.5

(8/8/21)

i am so happy i tackled this again after i picked it up in high school, read one chapter, and did not understand a thing. there’s still so much symbolism and metaphor that i know i missed - the moment i finished the last page i immediately flipped back to the beginning to start it again. i feel like the way toni morrison writes is conducive to rereads in a way that i have not found any other author to do as well as she does - she packs meaning and intent into every small detail, and i especially love the way she does character introductions, starting at a side detail usually in nature before sliding over imperceptively, usually in the middle of a sentence, to start talking about the character. i can picture a camera focusing on the birds flying around the trees on the estate and then slowly sliding over and refocusing on valerian sitting in the greenhouse. i do enjoy a good snappy introduction personally, but something about her style is so enjoyable to read. i feel like there’s so much trust and challenge put on the readers to put together the pieces of the novel, and it’s thrilling work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Slavery