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chanatova's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
david_slack110507'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: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Incest, Xenophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Cultural appropriation
tinyjude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
In some senses, it does a great job at giving depth both to Bertha's character and background, and Mr. Rochester's feelings about her (which I did not expect to find here), as well as the racial complexities in Jamaica after the end of "legal slave ownership" (we know it was still being enacted nonetheless), colourism, women's autonomy and the treatment of (women's) madness and how these poor women are driven into these unstable mental states by their environments, and mostly their husbands.
But it was also confusing in a lot of instances and felt short when depicting more the nuance of the black characters' feelings towards their previous slave owners. I wish we had focused more on them in general, than the white Creole perspective, but I understand Rhys' background and how that shaped this re-imagining of Bertha's story. Still, I think it should be an essential read after Jane Eyre because it adds more depth to her character and a more complex post-colonial context than the original book did.
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Trafficking, and Classism
sarasreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This prequel take on colonialism and feminism was definitely interesting, and packed a lot into a short book. There were so many metaphors and details that held deeper meaning. It's a little rough to read though, as there is a lot of racism, racial slurs, violence and powerlessness. An interesting and eerie take on the story of Bertha.
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
anindistinctaccountant's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death and Sexual harassment
amy_moss'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
4.25
However, after reading the book again, I love it!! I found myself intertwined in the relationships and the tension created. Even the imagery in the book is amazing with recurring symbols which speak volumes about the plot which makes me love it even more!
(Although I would warn any mr Rochester fans against reading it)
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
laurenbb23's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
minary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Dementia