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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved this story of how people who are othered in America can chose to harm to chose to help each other. Good character development and plot
I found this book to be extremely slow and just not all that interesting.
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Such a great book. At first, I was lost and there were so many disparate characters, I found myself lost and a bit disengaged. But I really liked the character of Chona, the owner of the Heaven and Earth grocery store. She had so much integrity and kindness. Then I started to really care for Dodo, and Monkeypants broke my heart.
The construction of the book was tough at first. It is basically told in a circle. The murder discussed at the beginning of the book is circled back to you at the end. You finally find out who the skeleton is, but then I had to go back and read the beginning because I had nothing to connect that part to when I started reading. But it was good because I picked up so much more the second reading through. I like how there were layers of the story that were added to each time. The reader learns more about what happens as each character adds their own perspective.
The writing was also fantastic. I will need to pick up some others by James McBride. Highly recommend.
The construction of the book was tough at first. It is basically told in a circle. The murder discussed at the beginning of the book is circled back to you at the end. You finally find out who the skeleton is, but then I had to go back and read the beginning because I had nothing to connect that part to when I started reading. But it was good because I picked up so much more the second reading through. I like how there were layers of the story that were added to each time. The reader learns more about what happens as each character adds their own perspective.
The writing was also fantastic. I will need to pick up some others by James McBride. Highly recommend.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Uff, what a book. Stories inside of stories on top of stories hiding behind more stories. I started this as an audiobook but couldn't keep the focus - this one deserves the focus.
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Most of the book was about introducing the characters and the town, then the action of the story could begin almost like a Bollywood movie. I can’t believe Doc Robert’s ended up in the well. He deserved it though. Piece of shit. I was sure it was going to be Dodo.
I’m so happy that they were able to get Dodo out of the penitentiary. And Nate and Addie found each other again.
That was a hell of a story.
I’m so happy that they were able to get Dodo out of the penitentiary. And Nate and Addie found each other again.
That was a hell of a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was one of my book club babe’s picks. I had previously DNF’ed the audiobook. I tried the digital version for BC and that helped because you could skim the sluggish parts. The book had a good concept with important thematic elements. The story drug for me and it was rough to finish. I felt it would’ve been better if it had been edited more and a bit shorter.
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No