Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

5 reviews

applehawk's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

a_d_maillet's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow this book was so much more than I thought it would be. I’m not typically a historical fiction person but Jojo Moyes wrote an incredible story. And the narrator was amazing!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Physical abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia

bel017's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I loved the characters: such strong, amazing, but realistically drawn women.
The setting too, was so well rendered. What an awful time and place. I'm sure the beauty of the place was supposed to shine through, but the dirt and poverty and hardship, and knowing those kinds of things really happened there and still happen all over the world, and that we all benefit from the misery of others, was tough.

Several times I had to skip a page or two to avoid traumatising content

a woman being beaten, a dog being killed

But reading about the friendship and the women's determination was wonderful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Sexism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

loudgls89's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

 You know a book is good when you just completely forget that you’re reading. And I read this entire book in a single day because I was so enthralled by the story and the world created within. 

Set in the 1930s, Alice is a young British woman who has just married a gorgeous American man and moved across the world to a small town in Kentucky. She thinks she’s the luckiest girl in the world, but when they get to Kentucky, things don’t quite go as she had planned. 

Alice and Bennett move in with Bennett’s father, Mr Van Cleve, and their relationship is strained to say the least. As soon as they get home, Bennett seems to lose interest in poor Alice, leaving her isolated and alone. 

Enter Marjery. A ‘forceful’ woman living outside of society’s expectations. She’s running a mobile library project that delivers library books to remote homes in the Kentucky mountains, a project which doesn’t really have the support of the whole town. And when Alice decides to get involved, let’s just say that Mr Van Cleve is non too pleased. 

Speaking of Mr Van Cleve, he’s a downright bully. The kind of man that doesn’t take any nonsense from women, who is used to shouting loudly to get his own way, and if that doesn’t work he’ll use whatever underhand tactics he needs to, but he must get what he wants. 

What follows is a tale of true sisterhood, of the fact that women are stronger together, and how these women in particular were not afraid to fight for what is right. and for each other. 

I have to say, when I ordered this book, I saw it was by Jojo Moyes and assumed it would be another book on a similar vein to Me Before You and it’s sequels, so I was most suprised when I was dropped into 1930s Kentucky. 

At first I didn’t thing I was going to get along with the story, but the characters were written with such depth that it didn’t take long before I was emotionally invested in their lives. And the way that the author described the town and the scenery that the women take in on their horseback travels. I could have been there with them, and truly felt like I was. 

If you’re expecting a book that’s fluffy and romantic and without trial, this isn’t the book for you. It was challenging, eye opening, and multiple times I was left feeling like I could cry. Don’t let that put you off though, it was totally worth it for the joy of learning about and getting to know these wonderful women. 

Although the women themselves weren’t real, I was surprised to learn the packhorse library was a real thing – I’d never heard of it before but what an amazing project to ensure that even the most remote homes in America could have the privilege of reading. 

I think Jojo Moyes could fast be becoming one of my favourite authors, what a superb book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Incest

kathyf1687's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Murder

Minor: Animal death and Incest