Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Marriage of a Thousand Lies by SJ Sindu

22 reviews

lentilkong's review

emotional reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

The characters were frustrating precisely because they were realistic. I felt emotionally abused by them the whole time, but it led to many reflections. The prose was simple and beautiful. I like the present tense. What I didn’t like was the role of Tasha (what was the point?). Given her presence in the book, I wish we got to understand her more. Not that this book tends to spoon feed you why each character is the way they are (it’s complicated and subtle, like in reality), but it felt like Tasha was just a side character inserted to make a point rather than a real person. Overall, a thought-provoking and beautiful read that made me learn a lot about Sri Lankan history and politics as well.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Homophobia

Minor: Toxic relationship

rhi_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Death

kefeshe's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Beautiful and reflective story. The writing was almost like conversations I may have with myself in my head, making it very easy to read. I immediately grew to love these characters, even with thier flaws and saw thier depth and similarities to people I know myself. I didn't realise quite how much the storyline is based on contant homophobic microaggressions and comments, which was challenging. I was grateful with Lucky's ability to communicate with her Amma at the end, and choose to live as herself, while acknowledging the pain of all she would be loosing in making that choice

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual content

Minor: Death, War, and Racism

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Truly heartbreaking. I usually don't like books that are unrelentingly sad like this one, but it's very beautifully written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Alcohol, Dementia, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Death, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Cursing, Misogyny, and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence, Child death, War, Animal death, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Blood, Murder, Violence, Colonisation, and Bullying

Colorism

tangoscore's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Death and Suicidal thoughts

lunarreads's review

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

2.5

As a desi closeted woman who knows all too well the pressures of marriage and having a husband and kids and not disappointing your family, this book tore deep into my heart. I felt the pain Lucky felt and the back-and-forth uncertainty Nisha felt. This book gives me a strange bittersweet comfort of knowing I'm not alone in my worries and struggles. I do think there's a little bit of oomph that's missing from the story otherwise, that stops it from being a much more memorable novel.

I was hoping for a happy ending with Nisha and Lucky, but I think how it ended probably fits the reality of their lives more, as heartbreaking as it is. However, I will say, none of the characters had me rooting for them in the end, maybe Lucky, maybe, but I was so annoyed with all the characters by the end, I was just glad to be finished with the book.

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Homophobia

zafarali's review

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Grief

Moderate: Dementia and Gaslighting

Minor: Death, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

kathrynhoss's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

A well-written and thought-provoking novel rich with cultural detail. I related to Lucky right away on a gender presentation level. It's rare for me to encounter female characters whom I relate to on this axis, who are also excited to be called "handsome" and feel most alive when wearing an open button down shirt.

It's the little things.

I was so into the first half of this book, but it became torturous for me personally. I have stopped reading coming out narratives for the most part, and now I remember why. I don't want to fill my head with any more gay suffering. The central conflict in this book is immensely believable and compelling: do you give up your family and that connection to your culture, or do you give up your personal truth?

I was hoping this would resolve itself into some kind of cute romance, even if things didn't work out with Nisha or if Lucky's mom never accepted her. It did not. Lucky continues throughout the course of the novel to throw herself at the mercy of covert narcissists (IMO) who make her suffering all about them. She puts herself in dangerous situations almost as a form of self-harm. Her interior monologue verges on suicidal at times, which I found triggering and which I know could easily trigger others.

I think this is worth reading, but perhaps not if you're prone to depression or sensitive to homophobia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Homophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Self-destructive behavior, attempted date rape, and other potentially triggering sexual situations.

bi_n_large's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Classism, Rape, Pregnancy, and Racism

Minor: Racial slurs and Suicidal thoughts

viji's review

emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Homophobia, and Racism