Scan barcode
headlesswork's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual content, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Drug use, and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Cursing, and Infidelity
erinwolf1997's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
nikkiacat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, and Cursing
Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, Drug use, and Islamophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Islamophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
phobosm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Death, Classism, Drug abuse, Cancer, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Misogyny, Homophobia, and Chronic illness
Minor: War, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Vomit, Violence, Rape, Sexism, Excrement, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Pregnancy, Child death, Religious bigotry, Murder, Miscarriage, and Medical content
jlam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Fatphobia
laura_jayne's review against another edition
I didn't hate the beginning of the book, but I couldn't read any more.
Graphic: Sexual content
dianahincureads's review
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Slap is a polyphonic little wonder, where we get the perspective of eight different characters, all present at the barbeque. At first, it seems easy to side with a team (pro or against the slapping/sounds funny so I had to add this) but then we realise what Tsiolkas is doing.
The slap is no longer a simple slap but rather a metaphorical slap intended for the Australian society. Even though Australia is a multicultural nation, in practice there are many issues related to multiculturalism (racism, discrimination and the erasure of Aboriginal voices to just name a few). From an historical point of view, Australia has a troubled past when it comes to its immigration system and its treatment of the indigenous people. The ‘White Australia Policy’ with its restrictive laws on migration and then the more welcoming Multicultural Policy in the 1970s have real consequences in the present-day multicultural Australia (and these are only 2 specific events related to immigration but of course there are many others). Tsiolkas explores this in his novel and by the end of it, there are no good/bad sides. All characters have their own flaws but it is obvious how some need to deconstruct their privilege whilst others deal with racism on a daily basis.
Read it if you want to get angry/be entertained (remember the slap).
Do not read it if you are sensitive to topics such as sexual violence, violence in general and slurs. It’s difficult to swallow at times but it makes you think about the world we live in.
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content