fboschetti's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.5
nbub123's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to read Brit Bennett's debut novel after I read The Vanishing Half. The plot was intense but the ending felt abrupt. I still had so many questions about where all the characters ended up but I think that was Bennett's intention.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
If I summarized the plot of this story of a girl, her boyfriend, and her friend, it would seem run of the mill, typical realistic fiction, so I won't summarize it. Instead, I'll make a like/dislike list.
I liked the characters and the way the author showed all their flaws and the consequences of those flaws compassionately. While I wouldn't want to hang out with any of these characters in real life, I felt connected to them, and grew to care about them. I liked the perspective switch with the intermittent chapters narrated by the "Mothers" group, though they featured more in the first part than the end of the novel. It was a novel style choice and clearly showed the community's role in these three people's world. Finally, I especially liked the way the relationships and memories changed over the years - and the smooth way those years transitioned. There was no clunky "and then she moved to a new state" or "after five years, he finally got this job." If anything, the writing shines best when it's not trying to showcase some emotion or crucial plot point, but simply showing a summer day in a hammock or an afternoon in church.
I didn't dislike anything in this novel, than feel less than lukewarm about some things I think I was supposed to feel stronger about. Nadia and her father's relationship evolves from her childhood, teen years, to adulthood, but I felt that her "kind" actions were more driven by self-centeredness and guilt. Maybe I was supposed to sympathize with her, but I wanted to shake her most when she's supposedly repenting.. And a super minor point, why was there so much description of girls wearing sweatpants and having messy hair buns? I love me some comfy pants too, but there are other ways to show comfort and relaxation. (And look at how I avoided punning about lazy writing!).
The narrator, Adenrele Ojo, is also extremely excellent. She doesn't pretend to be an entire cast, but modulates her voice for the main characters so you can easily identify each speaker and feel their emotions.
I liked the characters and the way the author showed all their flaws and the consequences of those flaws compassionately. While I wouldn't want to hang out with any of these characters in real life, I felt connected to them, and grew to care about them. I liked the perspective switch with the intermittent chapters narrated by the "Mothers" group, though they featured more in the first part than the end of the novel. It was a novel style choice and clearly showed the community's role in these three people's world. Finally, I especially liked the way the relationships and memories changed over the years - and the smooth way those years transitioned. There was no clunky "and then she moved to a new state" or "after five years, he finally got this job." If anything, the writing shines best when it's not trying to showcase some emotion or crucial plot point, but simply showing a summer day in a hammock or an afternoon in church.
I didn't dislike anything in this novel, than feel less than lukewarm about some things I think I was supposed to feel stronger about. Nadia and her father's relationship evolves from her childhood, teen years, to adulthood, but I felt that her "kind" actions were more driven by self-centeredness and guilt. Maybe I was supposed to sympathize with her, but I wanted to shake her most when she's supposedly repenting.
Spoiler
I felt that the author wanted the affair to seem inevitable, but it wasn't at all justifiable to me. All the stuff about the two of them being emotionally intimate, even though we don't get much conversation written between them, combined with all the description of her smooth legs on his wounded leg, just confused me. Stop trying to quantify the affair as emotional or sexual or psychological. Let us readers judge that.The narrator, Adenrele Ojo, is also extremely excellent. She doesn't pretend to be an entire cast, but modulates her voice for the main characters so you can easily identify each speaker and feel their emotions.
gathonik's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was so beautifully written. The way time moves quickly without much fuss as it does in real life I suppose. The writing style and the way the chapters blended was outstanding. And the characters? Oh my word I loved all of them with their flaws.
sarahprandall's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars | This book isn't a page turner, but rather a beautiful and insightful story that unfolds over a decade. The writing is top notch, and the characters flawed, realistic, and memorable.
sarah_harri5's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as The Vanishing Half, but some thought-provoking stuff on mothers / mothering
kaylakathleen's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- 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
2.75
katrinkirjat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Olipa hyvä kirja! En muuta tosin odottanutkaan kirjailijalta aiemmin lukemani kirjan perusteella, mutta silti yllätyin positiivisesti. Kirja vei täysin mukanaan.
Kirja käsittelee äitiyttä, äidittömyyttä, äidiksi tulemista tai tulemattomuutta eri näkökulmista, eri hahmojen tarinoiden kautta.
Tarinan keskiössä on kuitenkin kolme nuorta, joiden koko elämää värittää, vääntää ja kuroo yhteen ja erilleen salaisuus. Mitä jos kaikki olisi mennyt toisin? Mitä jos salaisuus olisi kerrottu aiemmin?
Pidin kirjan hahmoista ja heidän rosoisuudestaan. Pidin siitä miten tarina kurkotti moneen suuntaan, mutta pysyi silti hyvin kasassa. Pidin siitä, että kirja käsitteli isoja aiheita ja synkkiäkin asioita, mutta ei jäänyt niihin vellomaan tai mässäilemään.
Kirja tuntui vähän elämää isommalta.
Kirjaa hyvin lyhyen hetken pureskeltuani jäin vähän miettimään yhden näkökulman esiin nostamista usean kerran - tätäkö kirjailija halusi alleviivata? Joillekin ”sivujuonille” olisin ehkä kaivannut vähän enemmän tilaa ja käsittelyä. Toisaalta tällaista elämäkin on. Kaikki asiat eivät ”ratkea”, saa päätepistettä ja jotkut asiat pyörivät loopilla loppuelämän.
Suosittelen kyllä lukemaan tämän.
Kirja käsittelee äitiyttä, äidittömyyttä, äidiksi tulemista tai tulemattomuutta eri näkökulmista, eri hahmojen tarinoiden kautta.
Tarinan keskiössä on kuitenkin kolme nuorta, joiden koko elämää värittää, vääntää ja kuroo yhteen ja erilleen salaisuus. Mitä jos kaikki olisi mennyt toisin? Mitä jos salaisuus olisi kerrottu aiemmin?
Pidin kirjan hahmoista ja heidän rosoisuudestaan. Pidin siitä miten tarina kurkotti moneen suuntaan, mutta pysyi silti hyvin kasassa. Pidin siitä, että kirja käsitteli isoja aiheita ja synkkiäkin asioita, mutta ei jäänyt niihin vellomaan tai mässäilemään.
Kirja tuntui vähän elämää isommalta.
Kirjaa hyvin lyhyen hetken pureskeltuani jäin vähän miettimään yhden näkökulman esiin nostamista usean kerran - tätäkö kirjailija halusi alleviivata? Joillekin ”sivujuonille” olisin ehkä kaivannut vähän enemmän tilaa ja käsittelyä. Toisaalta tällaista elämäkin on. Kaikki asiat eivät ”ratkea”, saa päätepistettä ja jotkut asiat pyörivät loopilla loppuelämän.
Suosittelen kyllä lukemaan tämän.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Sexual violence
lillianjv's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
insidestory's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
4.0