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trin's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Honestly I found this nearly unreadable. 400+ pages of antisemitism, an experience that to me was like being smacked in the face again and again and again. To be clear, Scott seems to (mostly) be saying that antisemitism is bad, but no Jewish character can be on page or referenced without someone calling them "accursed" or otherwise throwing a stereotype or a slur at them. It's exhausting. Scott seems to view Jews as prey animals -- which, I know [book:Maus|15196] plays with the same thing, but it's very different from the perspective <i>of</i> a Jew -- reviled and persecuted by all. Every single character they come across has something nasty to say about them (us), including the supposed heroes.
Ivanhoe himself, meanwhile, is bland as can be; I was waiting and waiting for his famous battle for Rebecca's life and honor and he doesn't even <i>do</i> anything in it! Yet Scott is appalled at the mere thought of him having romantic feelings for the "Jewess" who nurses him back to health, and at the end, the happiest ending he can conceive of for Rebecca is her leaving England, because it's implied that she just doesn't belong there. As the product of Jews and Scots who banged, let me just say a hearty: fuck you!
1.5 stars for all the best bits, which feature Robin Hood and -- forgive my ignorance until recently for not knowing this -- form the basis of the parts of the legend so gloriously displayed in <i>The Adventures of Robin Hood</i> starring Errol Flynn. I recommend watching that: it's much more entertaining and no one talks shit about Jews even <i>once</i>.
Ivanhoe himself, meanwhile, is bland as can be; I was waiting and waiting for his famous battle for Rebecca's life and honor and he doesn't even <i>do</i> anything in it! Yet Scott is appalled at the mere thought of him having romantic feelings for the "Jewess" who nurses him back to health, and at the end, the happiest ending he can conceive of for Rebecca is her leaving England, because it's implied that she just doesn't belong there. As the product of Jews and Scots who banged, let me just say a hearty: fuck you!
1.5 stars for all the best bits, which feature Robin Hood and -- forgive my ignorance until recently for not knowing this -- form the basis of the parts of the legend so gloriously displayed in <i>The Adventures of Robin Hood</i> starring Errol Flynn. I recommend watching that: it's much more entertaining and no one talks shit about Jews even <i>once</i>.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
cpruskee's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Racism
impla77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book is like historical historical fiction. I appreciate learning about the origin of popular tropes in the Robin Hood myth, but I found this quite dull and the characters very 1D. Just dragged on a bit too long. Rebecca was much more interesting than Rowena anyway..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
monapearl's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Antisemitism
bedneyauthor's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A bit of a slow start, but it's well worth keeping going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Rape