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siria's review
4.0
This second book in the Blanche White series sees Blanche heading to the small Maine resort community of Amber Cove. Traditionally a retreat for fair-skinned, wealthy African Americans, Blanche anticipates standing out as someone who is both working-class and dark-skinned. Mysterious deaths occur and Blanche gets to the bottom of it all, though honestly the crime-solving aspect of this novel is both secondary to the main action of the book and honestly a bit limp (like a second-rate Murder, She Wrote episode). The real interest to Blanche Among the Talented Tenth is Barbara Neely's exploration of classism and colorism among Black people, and how engaging and authentic Blanche's voice is. She's one of those point-of-view characters whom you can really hear speaking in your ear.
allyexa's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
What a drag this book was, in so many ways.
Firstly, for a 265 page mystery, it just never held my interest. The plot took too long to get going, and then didn’t quite know what to do with itself.
Also, it felt overall depressing. Lots of trauma, family and romantic relationships were strained and unhappy, there were suicides, a mental breakdown, colorism, classism, and so much judgment.
I still love Neely’s writing , and main character Blanche. She says what needs to be said with humor and history to back her up. It’s always nice to hang out with her, but she was having a bummer of a summer in this book.
I’ll happily continue on with the series. Thank God Blanche was just visiting in this book.
4/18/23
Firstly, for a 265 page mystery, it just never held my interest. The plot took too long to get going, and then didn’t quite know what to do with itself.
Also, it felt overall depressing. Lots of trauma, family and romantic relationships were strained and unhappy, there were suicides, a mental breakdown, colorism, classism, and so much judgment.
I still love Neely’s writing , and main character Blanche. She says what needs to be said with humor and history to back her up. It’s always nice to hang out with her, but she was having a bummer of a summer in this book.
I’ll happily continue on with the series. Thank God Blanche was just visiting in this book.
4/18/23
pussreboots's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
lit_stacks's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blacksentai's review
5.0
This is superb. It is a book I desperately wish I had known about when it came out.
matttruss's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
It seems I'm in the minority on this one, but where I enjoyed the first, book 2 fell a bit flat for me. There was more up-front action here but the plot just...dragged and there wasn't enough suspense to keep me wanting to pick this one up, so it sat there. I still love Blanche as a character, but the plot in this one just didn't do it for me.
remie's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
b00kr3vi3ws's review against another edition
4.0
When Blanche white is invited to spend the summer with an elitist bunch of people at Amber Cove, she decides to take up on it and see the kind of crowd her kids (her niece and nephew she is raising) are rubbing shoulders with at the private school she has them attending. She is expecting to meet the rich and the who's who of the African American community so that she can understand the changes in her kids. What she doesn't expect is to put on her detective hat. But that is what happens when a body turns up and everyone at the resort has a reason to want to see the victim dead. And, Blanche is left to work out the motives and the opportunity of the people she is supposed to be vacationing with.
I quite enjoyed this book mostly because of the protagonist. Blanche White is a loveable character. She is expert at befriending people and putting them at ease - a characteristic that came in handy in this book. People feel comfortable talking to her as they would to their best friend or to an agony aunt. Her ability to gather information, and sizing up people complements her natural ability to befriend people. She is smart and sassy too. She is open and frank in her discussions with the kids. What else do you need when you have a protagonist like this working out the details of the case?
Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws
I quite enjoyed this book mostly because of the protagonist. Blanche White is a loveable character. She is expert at befriending people and putting them at ease - a characteristic that came in handy in this book. People feel comfortable talking to her as they would to their best friend or to an agony aunt. Her ability to gather information, and sizing up people complements her natural ability to befriend people. She is smart and sassy too. She is open and frank in her discussions with the kids. What else do you need when you have a protagonist like this working out the details of the case?
Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws
bjerz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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