Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz

6 reviews

preciouslittleingenue's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Such a brave, beautifully vulnerable narrative. To allow oneself to relive such traumas enough to authentically replicate them for mass production to be read by thousands is just so brave. The Sapphlit interview with Jaquira Diaz was so enlightening and inspiring. The care she takes with herself and with her words, for the sake of the mental safety of those reading her stories, is so beautiful.

Her way of crafting her real life into almost a mythological tale, like La Llorona (who she mentions) is so fascinating and effective.

“My brother and I, we were the same: part monster, part mouse.” So incredibly demonstrative of how people who do horrible things are often cowards, and also shows the empathy Diaz has for even the people who hurt her the most. 


Regarding the woman terrorist who attacked as a radical form of protesting for Puerto Rican liberty:
“mentions…anything related to who she was or what she did. Instead, the headline mentions her fucking. Red. Lipstick.” Yup. That sounds about right. Obviously not that this woman was “in the right,” and I don’t think Jaquira thinks that either. But because it was a woman…all they see is the red lipstick. My rage FLARED when I heard that line. 

“…slowly, slowly, love you back to life.” What a beautiful sentiment. I absolutely know what she means.

Not to mention all the bi panic that was so enlightening to hear, her insight on racism/colorism, the way she touched upon the strange nuance of queerness in the military/navy…just so much good stuff. So very glad this was Sapphlit’s September book. Cannot wait to read her novel in progress. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs

earthtokb's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying

lidiaaa222's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Lesbophobia, Drug abuse, Cursing, Transphobia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Vomit, Racial slurs, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Racism, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Classism, Grief, Outing, Bullying, and Infidelity

abbie_'s review

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

Absolutely loved this, one of the most powerful memoirs I’ve ever read. Díaz writes so sinuously, it flows like a novel and keeps you gripped until the very last page 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Colonisation, Vomit, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug abuse, Racism, and Suicide attempt

readalongwithnat's review

emotional tense medium-paced

3.5

This was a hard book to listen to, but I'm glad I did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Vomit

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, Child death, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Sexual content, and Suicide

jackielynlyn's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Physical abuse

Minor: Sexual violence and Gun violence