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michelekendzie's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t understand. Why? And what happens to her?
It describes a little what it’s like to be a second-generation American but it’s just a taste.
And it was so hard to follow.
I kept reading, though, wanting to know why and what would happen. But I never found out.
I chose it because I’ve been obsessed with politics for the past year. But it was a disappointing first book of the year.
It describes a little what it’s like to be a second-generation American but it’s just a taste.
And it was so hard to follow.
I kept reading, though, wanting to know why and what would happen. But I never found out.
I chose it because I’ve been obsessed with politics for the past year. But it was a disappointing first book of the year.
terrylw's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book but I didn't. I keep trying to figure out what I am missing.
The writing style of the book is very different, the characters did not have names, i.e. Mother, Middle Daughter, etc, the flashbacks to a variety of times and places; that all took getting used to but I didn't hate it. Admittedly, I did hate the references to the husband as being the "Hero".
The book opens with Mother lying in the driveway after being shot by police with assault style weapons. Why were the police even there? I understand the racial profiling throughout the book but I feel like at no point do we know why this shooting incident took place. I was waiting for something, anything to help and nothing came.
The writing style of the book is very different, the characters did not have names, i.e. Mother, Middle Daughter, etc, the flashbacks to a variety of times and places; that all took getting used to but I didn't hate it. Admittedly, I did hate the references to the husband as being the "Hero".
The book opens with Mother lying in the driveway after being shot by police with assault style weapons. Why were the police even there? I understand the racial profiling throughout the book but I feel like at no point do we know why this shooting incident took place. I was waiting for something, anything to help and nothing came.
emmaaamay's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
nina_wintermeyer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lauramay94's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
getlitwithamy's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
A huge thanks to Counterpoint for sending me an eARC for one of my most anticipated reads of 2019.
Devi S. Laskar has written a truly beautiful, heartbreaking book. The lyrical prose is broken into small snippets centered around The Mother. We never learn her name but we get to know her story. She is an American-born daughter of Bengali immigrant parents. She lives in the wealthy suburbs in Atlanta raising three daughters while her husband spends most of his time away from work. The book documents her struggle with racism and the hostility she has faced as a second generation immigrant.
One morning, her house is unjustifiably raided by the authorities. Standing her ground knowing she has been targeted for no reason, she is shot by a policeman. As she lies on her driveway bleeding, she reflects on the prejudice she has endured during her life.
The poetic style of writing took a little while to get used to but once I adjusted, I practically devoured this book. It is a stunning debut that exposes what it is like to be a woman of colour in the US and touches on the abuse of power by the police. It is sad think that racism is still prevalent in society today and I have had it a goal for this year to read more books around topics such as race and immigration and more by woman of colour.
This book has been stuck in my head since I finished it and I thoroughly recommend it. I've knocked a star off because of how long it took for me to adjust to the poetic writing and fragmented format.
A huge thanks to Counterpoint for sending me an eARC for one of my most anticipated reads of 2019.
Devi S. Laskar has written a truly beautiful, heartbreaking book. The lyrical prose is broken into small snippets centered around The Mother. We never learn her name but we get to know her story. She is an American-born daughter of Bengali immigrant parents. She lives in the wealthy suburbs in Atlanta raising three daughters while her husband spends most of his time away from work. The book documents her struggle with racism and the hostility she has faced as a second generation immigrant.
One morning, her house is unjustifiably raided by the authorities. Standing her ground knowing she has been targeted for no reason, she is shot by a policeman. As she lies on her driveway bleeding, she reflects on the prejudice she has endured during her life.
The poetic style of writing took a little while to get used to but once I adjusted, I practically devoured this book. It is a stunning debut that exposes what it is like to be a woman of colour in the US and touches on the abuse of power by the police. It is sad think that racism is still prevalent in society today and I have had it a goal for this year to read more books around topics such as race and immigration and more by woman of colour.
This book has been stuck in my head since I finished it and I thoroughly recommend it. I've knocked a star off because of how long it took for me to adjust to the poetic writing and fragmented format.
cjeanne99's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I don’t recall how The Atlas of Reds and Blues ended up on my “to read” list - but I’m glad it did. Our main character - “Mother” also known as “the Real Thing” has been shot in her driveway in suburban Atlanta. As she lays bleeding in the driveway - we read vignettes of events from her childhood, her marriage, her mothering. All the times she was told “why don’t you go home” - as if a person with brown skin does not belong in Georgia. Being told by a teacher handing out US Census forms that she doesn’t need one because they are for Americans. Her children not being invited to parties because of their skin color. A group of - cable tv salesmen? - who try to break in to her home - saying “the police won’t believe her anyway”.
Interspersed with her memories - are factoids about Barbie dolls.
The book ended quickly - not tying everything into a neat package. But that’s the point. This is not a story to make you feel good - it’s a story to make you think. And for a middle class white women in their 60’s - it was another reminder of how sheltered I have been - how naive I am about many things.
Interspersed with her memories - are factoids about Barbie dolls.
The book ended quickly - not tying everything into a neat package. But that’s the point. This is not a story to make you feel good - it’s a story to make you think. And for a middle class white women in their 60’s - it was another reminder of how sheltered I have been - how naive I am about many things.
gwyn1220's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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? No
4.5
efarmer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75