Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Passing by Nella Larsen

35 reviews

secondhandreads's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

1.5

An achingly predictable plot and a flat-falling ending (no pun intended) the background of the concept of passing seemed to only have a passing relation to the plot of the story, though it gets brought up a lot. A lot of miserable people and unsympathetic actions, at least it's a short read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Infidelity

lfera8's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder

rory18's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Infidelity and Classism

Minor: Homophobia, Slavery, Suicide, Antisemitism, Murder, Alcohol, and War

It's technically unclear if the character who died was murdered or not.

ankbert's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.0

I didn't get very engaged in the story in the story but I still found it interesting and reflective.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death and Murder

booksillremember's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

Masterful, loved the complex layering of emotions, themes and social identities. 

It's a gripping story with sapphic undertones, an unreliable narrator and an ambiguous ending. Would love to read the novel from Clare's point of view. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Hate crime and Infidelity

rieviolet's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.0

This novella packs a lot into a little more than one hundred pages. 

In the foreground there's race and the concept of passing, with all of its moral implications. I think the theme is explored really well, and through the different characters we can observe all of its nuances. 

The author is also good at delving deep into the main character's psychology. The relationship between Irene and Clare is fraught with conflicting emotions, and it is build upon in a very clever way until the shocking breaking point.

I really appreciated the themes and the prose, but I wasn't completely swept away by the story, hence the 4-star rating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Suicide, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

minkkmuse's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

 audiobook reread. 

what is race? what is reality? the intoxicating mix of danger and desire. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Murder

scarroll178's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

So well crafted. Only complaint is that

I wish it had been longer because I wanted to see the ramifications of Clare’s death on Irene’s life and her marriage.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder

clararemon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Infidelity and Murder

faith99's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity