Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

4 reviews

strawberrymoonceci's review against another edition

informative reflective

4.5

This was an incredibly interesting book. She paints such a vivid picture in all the scenes, even the ones she didn't witness. I was very curious about the name of the book, I was also curious about the importance of this taxonomist. It was a gripping read, fascinating really. The audiobook version is wonderful, and I found the little nugget included at the end so heartwarming. This definitely made me want to read more book about natural history.

I absolutely did not expect the plot twists to include murder and eugenics! I think it's very interesting how Robert Starr Jordan went from allegedly covering up a murder, feeling wracked with guilt about it, to making eugenics his new purpose in life. What an absolute monster. The book is a masterclass in how to write a villain. In the beginning you hear mostly praise for him, there are definitely criticisms but you can see the author choosing to focus in his great capacity for perseverance, only for it to take a dark change, and for him to end up being responsible for the death, torture and mutilation (amongs other things) of tens of thousands in the US alone. Also, the US was the first country to make eugenics into national law. Which is so interesting considering the national narrative about it role in WW2. Not the least surprising though. I am surprised at how engaging this book was, considering I didn't like the author at all. Her writing is great, but she did not pass the vibe check. Also, fish dont exist as a category, that's the answer to the title. And Robert Starr Jordan can suck on that!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Torture, Abandonment, Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Murder, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Rape, Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Infertility, and Medical trauma

Minor: Death and Child death

audieverde's review

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

Took awhile to get into and I never knew where it was going, which I realized was part of the chaos and the point of the book. Once I was in it, I could not stop , and it sent me down numerous research rabbit holes.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Child abuse

emhunsber's review

challenging dark informative slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Abortion, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: War, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Infertility, Homophobia, Hate crime, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Colonisation, Child abuse, Car accident, Body horror, Blood, Biphobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Ableism

thewordshaker's review

dark informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

What an unexpected book! Lulu challenges assumptions and belief in her quest for hope and purpose, without deluding herself on white lies to tell herself. 

Part memoir, part recounting of ichthyologist history, the book comments on the short coming of science and scientists as well as explaining the misunderstood. 

I feel some of the topics covered here should have come with a warning. Lulu talks about suicide, rape, and forced sterilization with an occasional warning to not be squeamish - but being squeamish or sensitive to these subjects is only human and also based off of experiences. It may come from a place of trying to protect her vulnerabilities but it is wrong, and it made the book an uncomfortable reading, and why I chose not to give it 4 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Trafficking