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fuzzy1999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Slavery, Racial slurs, Rape, and Child abuse
heyitsashleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Trafficking, Violence, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Slavery, Death of parent, Child death, Addiction, Child abuse, Colonisation, Rape, and Sexual violence
ellivallow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
someonelikeblue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Graphic: Slavery, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Sexual content, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Sexual assault, War, Child abuse, Violence, Racism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Excrement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Infertility, Ableism, Gun violence, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Addiction, Drug abuse, Death, Child death, Vomit, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Bullying, Mental illness, Abandonment, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, and Racial slurs
Minor: Car accident, Police brutality, and Hate crime
rmperash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Infidelity, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Trafficking, War, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, and Suicide
cvaught's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Racism, Colonisation, and Death
afion's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Addiction, Colonisation, Slavery, Murder, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
jojo_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Physical abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, War, Xenophobia, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Excrement, Genocide, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
lucinotlucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual content, Colonisation, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Police brutality, Violence, Child death, Physical abuse, War, Addiction, Child abuse, and Infidelity
vaniavela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The novel explores the slave trade and shows us life in Ghana at the time. Through 14 perspectives, we explore America's and Ghana's relationship with slavery.
I loved the depth of the characters in each chapter. The lives of each descendant is complex, being brutally affected by the events of the time, or those that happened to their ancestors. Gyasi only uses twenty pages for each generation, but she fills their stories with detail, allowing us to learn about them. My only wish would be to read more of the characters; when I became attached to one, we would switch to another, and it was sad. Also, at first I was confused when the narration jumped to the sister's descendant, but as I read, I picked up the format.
It is hard to believe that this is Yaa Gyasi's first novel. Everything is portrayed in minute detail, the violence and events are acutely depicted, and the characters are well written. Undoubtedly a moving book.
cw: child/domestic abuse, chattel slavery, racism, racial slurs, whipping, rape/sexual assault, suicide, IV drug use (heroin), colonialism, lynching, beating, violence, war, incarceration, police brutality, mental illness, whipping.
Graphic: Child abuse, Colonisation, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, Suicide, Violence, and War
Minor: Mental illness