Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

4 reviews

common_nonsense's review

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Grief, Eating disorder, Body horror, Racism, and Bullying

ivy123's review

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

This book is like nothing I have ever read I am not sure how to talk about it. The writing style takes awhile to get used to and in a way I dont think I ever did get used to it. It is told from multiple perspectives all leading up to the disappearance of the main character Miranda but sometimes you do not even know it has switched perspectives till something about how the person is talking clicks. The writing is also very lyrical, haunting and at times dreamlike which can make I interpretation challenging at times. 

I loved the intergenerational links between the women in the family and the perspective from the house itself was an interesting twist. There were actually parts in the story that creeped me out as well and for someone who struggles to get that scared feeling from books this story provided. I love me a female female romance and that was also delivered by the book. Theres also some interesting points on racism both overt and subtle woven throughout the story which gave another layer to the story. 

However despite the premise I found there was not really much of a plot but that didnt actually both me that much. In fact it seemed there were lots of things in here that would usually put me off no happy or conclusive ending, hard to read writing style, not much happening etc but somehow I found myself enjoying it for what it was and not being too bothered by it which made this so very hard to rate. Definetly keen to give her other works a go. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, and Injury/Injury detail

headachesince03's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Addiction, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racism, Lesbophobia, Self harm, Death, Body shaming, Body horror, Hate crime, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Gore, Eating disorder, and Death of parent

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Blood, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Gore, Lesbophobia, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Bullying, Alcohol, Stalking, Incest, Gun violence, Drug use, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Xenophobia

readerette's review against another edition

I loved Gingerbread in all its quirky glory, but White is for Witching held no charm for me. None of the characters have any warmth, and though they are interesting, I have no investment in the story or their lives because they just seem detached from anything meaningful or good. I have a feeling the second half of the book would remedy some of that but not enough faith or energy to find out. I'm also not impressed that one of the only Black characters to get close to the main character is disturbingly close to the Magic Negro stereotype.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder and Death of parent

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, Self harm, and Violence