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duhitsamanda'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Suicide
slimyfan'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, War, Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment
livcashmere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Hate crime, Kidnapping, Violence, War, Murder, Homophobia, Suicide, Death, and Colonisation
jeremynelson0899'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? No
4.0
However, what a book to start off my reading again with! A fantastic plot, complicated and well-described, characters who are both unlikeable and tangible, with beautifully floral language to describe it all.
Having said this, there were two things I disliked- one was the grammatical mistakes (such as 'a room with a massive windows') and that the character of DD was a bit of a dick through the whole thing? I thought he loved Maali? And the fact nothing between them was resolved in the end left me with a feeling that something was lacking. I wanted more in that area.
Other than that, highly recommended. One of this year's best, certainly!
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, and Homophobia
lilaccoconut_bookclub's review against another edition
- 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
The imagery, the mythology, the historical context, and even the 2nd-person narrative. I usually hate 2nd-person, but this was done so thoroughly well that I loved it. It made me reconsider my bias against 2nd person. The entire story was poignant, intriguing, and hopeful in its own way. Not only that, it gave me the opportunity to learn more about Sri Lanka.
In the end, when he finds out how he died (because that's the whole point) and he
Graphic: Confinement, Genocide, War, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Grief, Torture, and Homophobia
Minor: Suicide
aristarcodisamo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Death, Child death, Gore, Violence, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, War, Child abuse, Torture, Car accident, Death of parent, Homophobia, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Classism, Colonisation, Animal death, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Cursing, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cancer, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Addiction
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
4.75
This was an eye-opening and emotional read; I laughed, gasped, cried, and pondered throughout the whole book. Each character was unique and whole, and each aspect of the plot (the personal and the wider political) was interesting and engrossing.
I was occasionally a little lost in trying to follow where Maali was and build the scenery as he travelled. However, all in all, this book was absorbing, immersive, and captivating. I instantly believed and was wrapped up the magical realism aspect.
Some of the sections - and the philosophising they brought on - will stay with me forever.
“I've watched your kind. Both as beast and as ghost. I can’t understand why humans destroy when they can create.”
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, Murder, Torture, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Homophobia, and Violence
brookes_bookshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping, War, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia and Torture
Minor: Alcohol, Abandonment, Death of parent, Animal death, and Genocide
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cursing, Death of parent, Classism, Confinement, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Colonisation, Car accident, Child death, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual violence
saj04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, War, Genocide, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide attempt