Reviews tagging 'Violence'

In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

10 reviews

stephanie_jmc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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

4.75

Another book club read! I really enjoyed this one - giving it an 8.8/10. It was a very insightful and interesting read. 

This novel follows the stories of three BIPOC women who are residing in Sweden with an emphasis on the unique struggles they face in light of the various reasons that brought them to Sweden, as well as their different levels of privilege. The stories are interwoven and occasionally overlap as all three women were, in some way, brought to the country by the same man. This book is one of the most well-written books I’ve ever read - the balance of being descriptive enough to paint a picture while not droning on, as well as making it intellectually stimulating and simple to understand at the same time. This book sheds light on so many systemic issues regarding race, autism, sexism, wealth, suicide, and general privilege in an honest, yet non-attacking approach. I think it’s an excellent conversation starter and I found it very interesting because I always viewed Sweden as a much more progressive place and this book served as a reminder of the very real barriers that exist everywhere for minorities. I did not love the ending of this book due to lack of closure with some of the stories, and it is an incredibly sad and thought-provoking book. 

I would absolutely recommend to anyone! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Suicide, Violence, and War

Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment

elizabethww's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

sugarcainn's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

char1otte's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Racism and Violence

moniipeters's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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: Ableism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Deportation

peachani's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, and Suicide

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, War, and Classism

Minor: Hate crime, Infertility, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

ganzareads's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

1.0

I do not understand the high rating of this book. There was no story, just three black women suffering page after page because of their skin color. It was really hard to root for Kemi and Brittany who kept on falling for white men who were OBVIOUSLY racist and/or fetichist? Muna deserved so much better though. Throughout the book, the author decided to paint the characters as lacking any sort of agency and just being victims of racism? This book especially the ending made me so angry. This felt like black trauma porn and I wish I had been warned. 

PS: Also wtf with the Jonny's autism being used as an excuse for his racist and predatory behaviour throughout the book only for the author at the end to imply that if he had been accepted as being on the autistic spectrum and supported with appropriate tools he would be less racist? Ugh I'm so angry 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Violence, and Sexual harassment

toadstoolsnshit's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

This novel covers some really important topics in an skillful and insightful way. While I wasn’t really a fan of the writing style, I appreciated the perspective that this book offers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Misogyny and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage, Vomit, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

librarybookscene's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

laurenmagoo's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Stalking