Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

30 reviews

renwah's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

4.5

kind of a really masterful book! i was VERY hesitant about what the tone of this book would be before i picked it up.  And while it does have that cozy mystery vibe, it doesn't shy away from a setting that I think a lot of readers in the western world would consider severe poverty, and a lot of things that are a lot darker than what the average cozy mystery is dealing with.  I don't think I've *ever* read a book like this.  It's SO fun to read, and Geeta and her social network are so engaging. While there is a good amount of straight up violence in this book, it stays pretty punchy without taking away the seriousness of what's taken place (for the most part

i do think the final sequence where the Dalit character is the most brutalized and then also suddenly is fully capable of stunts is a little too crazy

). 
All in all, though, I really enjoyed this book.  Frankly a little upset this is her debut novel, because I want more to read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Murder, Violence, Racism, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

plaingirl21's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

micah's review against another edition

dark emotional funny fast-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Racism, and Sexism

amyjo25's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Racism and Violence

kirstinlwx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Racism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Gun violence, Infertility, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Classism, Body shaming, and Cursing

tashtasher's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Gore, Infertility, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Rape, Alcoholism, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Suicide, Classism, Islamophobia, Racism, Fatphobia, Infertility, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Police brutality

Minor: Cancer, Stalking, Excrement, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

hath's review against another edition

dark funny informative reflective 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

Wow. This book is punchy, dramatic and funny! I've never read so fast. The exploration of female friendships and feminine issues made this book rich while its humour made it balanced. Amazing read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Sexism, Murder, Violence, Sexual assault, and Racism

Minor: Gun violence and Animal cruelty

lizlikesfrogs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Violence, Pedophilia, Racism, and Domestic abuse

chapterchatswithcaroline's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-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? No

2.0

Heck! Why did I even pick this book up in the first place, it was so disappointing & frustrating to read. Though, the synopsis did sound promising, the plot was totally off & uninspiring & far from being humorous, let aside dark humor.

I don’t know what the author was thinking while writing this book but she did portray India & its women in low light. I really don’t know what a worldwide audience is gonna think about us Indian women after reading this book. I don’t think, we Indian women go about murdering are husbands just coz we are domestically abused. India is ever progressing & I believe it has a good law system to deal such matter, be it a Panchayat in a small village or the Supreme Court. If the author wanted to write about “Nari Shakti” then she could have taken a more inspiring route rather than a brunch of women going about plotting & Poisoning their husbands to death & above all why use Phoolan Devi as an inspiration. I’m sure, she had reason for what she did & she surely wouldn’t want a women to follow in her path. The author also tried to give insights on too many topics in the book such as the Caste system, dowry and the Ramayan which added more chaos.

The characters were also of such poor quality, the main protagonist Geeta was so easy to manipulate, the don Bada bhai was also such a foolish character. As for the story, I was hoping that it would end in a more humorous manner. The other aspect that I disliked about this book was the writing, its was way below average. If the author wanted to write phrases in Hindi language, she should have written it in its origin form not translated it to english that to so poorly, what the heck is “Something black in the Lentils.” Just say “daal me kuch kala hai”.🙄 

Overall, a very poorly written book & not recommended atleast by me.

And before I end this review, something to think of “Was Karem really the good guy in this story?”

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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

4.25

This book is a great dark comedy. If anything, I wanted even more chapters.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Infidelity

There is evidence of all of these triggers but essentially all of it gets avenged or is discussed regarding how unfair it is. No characters performing these triggers fully gets away with anything. That said, our core group of characters also do plenty of awful things. It’s a dark comedy with murders. Brace yourself.