Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

95 reviews

yasidiaz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was a hard read, not only because it was mainly narrative poetry, but because of its content. I recommend reading the trigger warnings carefully before picking this book since it has very graphic content.

This is the first time I read a book by an Inuit writer with Inuit characters. That's honestly what mainly draws me to the story. I've been focusing on reading from cultures I am unfamiliar with and learning more from them. Reading about the life of a young Inuit woman living in the Canadian Artic during the 70's and 80's. It made me want to read more about this community and its folklore. 

Nonetheless, this book is very different from what I usually read. It's dark, sad, and hopeless at times. The prose was beautiful and Tanya Tagaq is a talented poet. I don't think I will read this book again. It was beautiful and I don't regret reading it, but I still prefer my lighthearted romantic reads.

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kodi_rae's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Part autobiography, part narrative fiction, part magical realism, etc. with some tough themes about SA, trauma, etc. One of the things that makes “Split Tooth” beautiful is the way Tagaq talks about the environment, animal spirits, the northern lights, etc. and how it ties into the narrative and cultural beliefs and practices. I read in other reviews that if you listen to the audiobook she narrates it herself and incorporates throat singing between each section which I imagine would lend itself to a whole new, raw experience. I think it would be worth revisiting. 

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drlucyc's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5


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livelaughlesbian99's review

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5.0

Read the audiobook with Tanya Tagaq as narrator. She is FANTASTIC.

This book is INCREDIBLY dark. If there is ANYTHING that will cause you severe distress while reading I recommend reviewing content warnings online… there are a lot which apply here. Split Tooth doesn’t shy away from the disgusting or the horrifying. There is a lot of abuse happening. However, Split Tooth also captures the beauty of the arctic and folkloric fantasy. I really enjoyed it. I’m disappointed it’s Tanya Tagaq’s only book!

If you read meet the story on its own terms. It has lots to say.


CW: Includes light spoilers. Specifics to help you prepare if you’re concerned. I have accurately tagged in my review below every content warning which applies to the text. There are more than pop up on the general page!
Most graphic stuff: pedophile teacher committing assault, one graphic rape scene, sex happening with child in the room, infanticide, forced pregnancy, a lot of details about pregnancy, hunting causing animal death, children witnessing domestic abuse, self harm via cutting, suicidal ideation and attempt

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eggboy397's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0


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wirt's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

4.5


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salemander's review against another edition

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5.0

gorgeous and so painful. the audiobook was incredible, the throat singing between chapters  just added to the dark and poetic story being told

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hila3's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense fast-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? Yes

3.75


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sturgeonpal's review against another edition

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bookishmillennial's review against another edition

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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? Yes
  • 200 pages, lyrically written (she adds throat singing in between chapters in the audiobook)
  • Searing symbolism & magical realism
  • story follows a nameless Inuk young woman from Nunavut (extremely close proximity to the Arctic Sea) who navigates so much trauma (food insecurity, sexual assault, teen pregnancy, indigenous land being destroyed, & more!)
  • intense ruminations on land, spirit, life, death & identity
  • cw: rape, child abuse, alcoholism, colonization, racism 

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