Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

5 reviews

jessica_artichoke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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: Misogyny, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Drug use and Forced institutionalization

gkm00's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism, and Deportation

hannahgjenson's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I will cheer for any story where a rapist is murdered and a shitty dad gets yelled at by his strong willed daughter!

I was wary of this book heading into it given that I typically am not a fan of historical fiction set before the 1920s ish. I can't really get over all the "ye's" and the truly brazen systemic subjugation of anyone who is not a white straight main. Not to say it's not accurate to the time period, but I don't find that those characteristics make an enjoyable read for me typically. However, learning about the convict transport system and the conditions specifically female prisoners were subjected to at the time kept me interested through the novel.

Hazel was probably my favorite character and is really the only main character who goes through a significant amount of growth, and I really enjoyed (and was heartbroken by at other times) her and Ruby's relationship. I found Mathinna's story really sad but also compelling; I can't even imagine the mental turmoil and confusion that she goes through as a result of the colonization of her people and subsequent confinement to the governor's house.

However, it left a bad taste in my mouth how she got such a nondescript and depressing ending. Again, I know that's likely what would have happened in reality to poor Mathinna, but

I take issue with how much care and thought was put into the white characters’ endings versus Mathinna's. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Minor: Genocide

author2223's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism

kimveach's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative 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

4.25

This is precisely what historical fiction should be.  It's an intimate story focusing on two young women and a girl against the backdrop of settling Australia by the British.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism