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Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'
Go Set a Watchman: Harper Lee's sensational lost novel by Harper Lee
38 reviews
_cecilie_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Contrary to popular opinion and my own expectations, I liked this novel a lot and thought it very well done. Yes sure, the childhood memory vignettes are mosaic and Scout is a little thick at times, seeming quite a bit younger than 26 but in my experience many people are prone to idealizing and idolizing well past their childhood.
I liked the other characters as well, they were incredibly believable, especially the whole strange Finch family. This book scratched an itch that it's predecessor just couldn't. Both are very emotionally honest and rightfully expect that the reader will connect to Scout and since I was neither a child nor an American I liked 'Mockingbird' just fine but I related much more to the young adult version of Scout who returns home and grows disillusioned with her father whom she worshipped growing up. The conflicting and complex portrayal of Atticus Finch was the central theme of this novel and I found Scout‘s relationship with him and her deeper understanding of him as a person and his flaws didn't take away from his characterization in Book One but instead showed him as a person not a idolised version of himself. You could say, since reading 'Mockingbird' and seeing him as the only good apple in a full fruit basket I waited for the other shoe to drop and when it dropped I was satisfied and even relieved.
Lastly, and this is just my theory, I think the overall negative reception of this novel in a way proves its merits: The average reader of this is probably quite nostalgic and loves Atticus Finch but in this novel they are forced to live through the same disappointment and anger Scout feels when she finally gets to know her father, not as a just hero but a flawed man. There's a mourning in growing up but also necessity.
I liked the other characters as well, they were incredibly believable, especially the whole strange Finch family. This book scratched an itch that it's predecessor just couldn't. Both are very emotionally honest and rightfully expect that the reader will connect to Scout and since I was neither a child nor an American I liked 'Mockingbird' just fine but I related much more to the young adult version of Scout who returns home and grows disillusioned with her father whom she worshipped growing up. The conflicting and complex portrayal of Atticus Finch was the central theme of this novel and I found Scout‘s relationship with him and her deeper understanding of him as a person and his flaws didn't take away from his characterization in Book One but instead showed him as a person not a idolised version of himself. You could say, since reading 'Mockingbird' and seeing him as the only good apple in a full fruit basket I waited for the other shoe to drop and when it dropped I was satisfied and even relieved.
Lastly, and this is just my theory, I think the overall negative reception of this novel in a way proves its merits: The average reader of this is probably quite nostalgic and loves Atticus Finch but in this novel they are forced to live through the same disappointment and anger Scout feels when she finally gets to know her father, not as a just hero but a flawed man. There's a mourning in growing up but also necessity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
tanjas_way_out's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, and War
honestrabbit's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Slavery
cursedkirst's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
To Kill A Mockingbird is without a doubt my favourite book of all time, Atticus one of my favourite characters I was hesitant to read GSAW, and I guess I feel just like Jean Louise, desperately disappointed that Atticus didn’t live up to the standards I set for him, but also disappointed that I reread TKAM immediately before this so the difference in standard between the two is so stark
2 stars for the book, the half for the bits throwing back to Scout’s younger self.
2 stars for the book, the half for the bits throwing back to Scout’s younger self.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
maisieb14's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
linnylou21's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
beckyjzw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
deliriah's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Car accident, and Racial slurs
Minor: Vomit and War
laskypasky's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
staticbananas's review against another edition
This book would have been revelatory if it had been published when Harper Lee wrote it. Reading it now is almost painful. I skimmed through the second half, but mostly came away with frustration at Jean Louise's naivety and mildly self-absorbed view of the world. I understand that the book seeks to challenge her worldview, but the book just didn't do it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs