Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez

35 reviews

sandysmith's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

3.75

Initially, I had an issue getting into the book as the initial chapters were written in the characters' dialect, so potentially, this might have been better if reading via audible. Once I got to Jesse's part, the reading itself became easier, although not necessarily easier in terms of the content. Jessie is a young black man brought up as a Jehovah witness. He is disowned due to being gay and an incident with another member of his church. He finds himself outcast from his church and family moving to London, being an artist and making a living by being a gay prostitute. The sex scenes are graphic. SPOILER I thought the relationship between him and Owen was beautifully developed and loved how they came back to each other. It's a challenging read, but ultimately, it makes you think about the sex industry and issues relating to acceptance, race, racism and religious bigotry. It's a thought-provoking and intensive interesting read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Cancer, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

essie101's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring relaxing sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Classism

Minor: Sexual assault

arlaubscher's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Miscarriage

asen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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? N/A

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Injury/Injury detail

madeline29's review

dark funny hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Outing

teddie_valetine98's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

This is one of those books everyone needs to read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Outing

Moderate: Sexism and Sexual assault

Minor: Miscarriage and Racial slurs

There are scenes that are graphic of sex work due to Jesse’s job

dominika_benmichael's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault

laurenw22's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

This was a stunning book. I loved almost every single part of it. Jesse’s voice as narrator was perfect - someone you wanted to protect when he was young and someone who became stronger and more assured at the book progressed. Personally, I didn’t find the graphic nature of the book off putting (though i didn’t expect it!) 
A seriously good read and one that opens up topics about racism, family dynamics, religion and sexuality.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent

maddb_96's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

ramreadsagain's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

"When did you last read a novel about a young, black, gay, Jehovah's Witness man from wolverhampton who flees his community to make his way in London as a prostitute?" - Bernardine Evaristo.

I really liked this story of family, religion, identity and nationality (and also daddy issues). It's written so tenderly in a way that makes you really feel what Jesse feels as he crashes through early adulthood. I also feel like I've learnt a lot from it.

The last 100 pages were less good, featuring a 14 year time jump where a lot has magically developed and improved without us able to actually see Jesse experience it. I also found some of the commentary in the final chapters a bit heavy-handed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and War

Minor: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Outing