Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

21 reviews

kshertz's review against another edition

challenging informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Definitely take this review and rating with a grain of salt. I have heard so much about this author and this book so I definitely wanted to read it. The concept is brilliant and there are so many brilliant lines in this book. I really feel like a lot of it probably went over my head but I did enjoy the parts of it that I understood and caught. It was a little bit too slow of a read for me and very long but overall definitely glad I got to experience this writer and their writing style.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Abandonment, Genocide, Misogyny, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Classism, Colonisation, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic

harpoonholly's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Audiobook review. First thing, Robin Miles is an amazing actor who puts so much passion in the words written, even the post-credits and IP legalese. She is a full cast in a single person, her characterizations are so good. I'll be getting the sequel to this book, "The World We Make" to hear her act again.

I'll also get the sequel because NK Jemisin is an amazing writer. I'm fascinated in the personification of concepts and to personify cities is to maximize adds greater complexity because of course it has to. I also like how she goes about acknowledging Lovecraft's literary contributions (northeastern U.S. sublime, dread, and monsters) and shining a scalding light over his overt bigotry that was startling even for his time. 

10/10, would recommend, especially the audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Homophobia, Racism, and Body horror

Moderate: Misogyny, Police brutality, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Addiction, and Alcoholism

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

How much do I love this book? I love it so much that when I finished it, I set it down and stared into nothing for a few minutes, just to feel all the weird feels I was feeling. I love it so much that I didn't write down a single content warning while I was reading, because I didn't want to stop long enough to make a note of it. I just... love it, OK?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Classism, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Body horror, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Police brutality

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Abortion, and Fatphobia

jackolanterns_in_august's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Xenophobia, Homophobia, Hate crime, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Misogyny and Sexual assault

stormeno's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Cursing

Minor: Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, Cancer, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Abortion, Sexism, and Sexual content

grimmarray's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

Possibly one of the most interesting mixes of Lovecraftian horror and, to put it in simplest terms, identity.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Racism

Moderate: Homophobia and Body horror

Minor: Classism and Injury/Injury detail

dannythestreet's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Dementia, Homophobia, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Cancer, Car accident, and Kidnapping

travelseatsreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I've always been in love with New York City so when I saw the cover for The City We Became and then read the blurb I knew instantly this was one I wanted to read. TCWB is a powerful and entertaining piece of urban speculative fiction/fantasy which takes multiple no holds barred punches at societies' issues leaving the reader with a lot to think about.

The world building and characterization are absolutely sensational. Jemisin's portrayal of each of the city's boroughs as humans with their own very unique personalities is absolutely spot on and so captivating and entertaining. It's hard not to be automatically drawn to some characters and then to take an immediate dislike to others. The people, culture and vibes of each individual borough are portrayed so well in their human form it's almost uncanny.

While I really enjoyed reading it and found it so hard to put it down, there were definitely sections where I did feel a little bit disconnected. Jemisin goes in hard repeatedly on so many issues such as prejudice, gentrification, racism, xenophobia and homophobia and while all her points raise fantastic questions for discussion at times due to the intensity and nature of her commentary it did become to feel a little preachy.

There's so much to unpack that I think maybe I would have enjoyed it more as a buddy read to have someone to bounce thoughts off of and to discuss themes with. However, overall I loved this book and its characters and I cannot to read The World We Make.

A captivating, gritty, speculative fantasy love letter to NYC with so much to discuss and ponder. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Classism, Hate crime, Violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Abortion

leannanecdote's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Misogyny, Classism, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Drug use, Child abuse, and Police brutality

Minor: Miscarriage, Cancer, and Abortion

toyin_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Classism, Racism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Eating disorder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Antisemitism, Police brutality, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism