Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

60 reviews

abhi_vijay94's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death and Gun violence

danidanseuse's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and War

andeulea's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Chimamanda Adichie is great at humanizing characters amidst war. While the Biafran War was a central theme, the focus on the characters' emotions and thoughts takes precedence.

War is undeniably devastating, people in first-world countries (like me) may struggle to comprehend the impact on every individual affected by such atrocities. Adichie skillfully avoids confining characters into these "victim" stereotypes, portraying each one as uniquely human, with inherent flaws and individuality, both within and beyond the context of war. It prompted my reflection on the consciousness of every individual, highlighting shared dreams and desires.

Adichie also weaves three distinct narratives, each representing a unique perspective of the war and family – Olanna, Ugwu, and Richard. These perspectives collectively contribute to a rich and comprehensive portrayal of the war and its impact on their lives, families, and community.

I'm grateful to be exposed to narratives that we don't hear about in our history classes. Would recommend this if you're interested in historical fiction and curious about the Nigerian Civil War. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

telemakus's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and War

mscalls's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death and Colonisation

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

amgarrido's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I have no words - I have been trying to think of a review that will do this book justice in the two months or so since I finished reading it but can’t.

I continue to be equal parts devastated and enamoured.

I strongly recommend you watch Chimamanda’s interviews about ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ on YouTube if you’d like some additional context, or want to understand how her family’s reality enmeshed with creative licence and imagination to create this novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

biographybookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

I loved hearing from the multiple perspectives, and the author did a great job tying them all together. I enjoyed learning about this war. You really get to hear their thoughts, and it felt like I was growing up along with the characters. I want to read everything by this author!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and War

laedyred's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This book requires an analytic, critical lens of a literature student to get the most out of it. The prose can drag at times but this isn't exactly an action-packed story. The horrors of the Nigerian civil war are on full display. Besides the two women protagonists, I hated every character. Men are truly the scum of the earth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War

courtneyfalling's review against another edition

dark informative 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

5.0

What an incredible book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and War