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Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'
A Manual for Cleaning Women: Selected Stories by Lucia Berlin
4 reviews
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
I keep changing my mind but I think my favourite read of this year is a tie between this collection of short stories and Alexander Chee's most recent essay collection.
Whilst some of Berlin's attitudes and language, particularly around race and orientation, can be hard to read, the stories in this collection are so moving and profound. She's not afraid to write about people often overlooked and marginalised, using truth and keen observation to draw out both the moments of beauty and ugliness in everyday life. Her imagery and use of little details create really evocative episodes. The insight into grief and addiction is incredible. My favourite stories were probably Strays, for its eerie and truthful portrayal of an early rehab programme, So Long, for its very painful portrait of grief and Let Me See You Smile for its stark depiction of addiction, police brutality and love. Berlin has an excellent knack for dialogue which makes her relationships feel organic and gripping - particularly in the titular story A Manual for Cleaning Women, all of her conversations with her husband ("I'll do macrame, punk!") are exquisitely funny and romantic. I'll forever be heartbroken by "Once he told me he loved me because I was like San Pablo Avenue." What a line. What a voice!
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Xenophobia and War
drlove2018's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abortion
sharon_s's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Pedophilia
lidz_2tc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Abortion
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Police brutality