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rai's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia
stacyaj's review
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia and Violence
Minor: Rape
sakibat's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Homophobia
Minor: Rape
mariane_g's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Sexual violence, and Rape
dominic_t's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
The book was beautifully written, and it was an interesting window into the everyday life of people in Zimbabwe. It went into how differently the rich lived from the poor. I grew to really love the characters, so it was hard to see the pain they went through.
Graphic: Homophobia and Violence
Minor: Rape
niniwa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Homophobia
fatkidatheartreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia
melanie_page's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Perhaps it is because I am an American person reading a book set in and by a Zimbabwean author, but I found the "secret" of Dumi to be obvious. At every little turn the author gives us something undeniable, but the main character Vimbai, doesn't see it until the last twenty pages or so, and that's when she reads Dumi's confession written in his own hand. The end of the book was quite speedy, but again, that may be differences in culture and thus writing styles. However, I felt like the author taught me about the economy of Zimbabwe without giving a lecture on the subject. The fact that Vimbai is given a loan that will mean nothing in two years because the value of money changes constantly, the way cars are on the street or not based on gas production, how sugar is only purchased when you have a network of people giving you clues (like it's a band doing a one-time pop-up show), and that there is 90% unemployment.
Graphic: Homophobia and Violence
Zimbabwe is a country in which you can be killed for being gay, and an attempt is made on one character, though it is not graphic.micsdirt_nbooks's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What is your measure of a good book? For me, great storytelling and a range of emotions. This book checked both those boxes for me. It was a slow burn of a book, richly describing the settings and characters. I began to feel betrayed by the book because I thought I figured out the "plot" of the book early on, the curiousity of how it affected the other characters and their development kept me reading. The result left me arguing with the Author's choice, but in the end, I am fascinated that I was able to be absorbed into their world.
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Rape
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