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Graphic: Racism, Rape
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Death of parent, Murder
I wasn’t sure about the structure at first but by the time I was starting Dominique’s section I was hooked on the web of storylines. This story is pockets and moments in people’s lives and because of this structure, it builds a layer of reality to the characters that I haven’t experienced in a long time.
I was reminded of the old theory about three degrees of separation. The interconnectedness of humanity. I didn’t agree or love all the characters but that was sort of the point, how we see ourselves versus each other. The powerful, complex, flawed nature of these 12 characters shows a very honest, very real mirror on what being a girl, women, other is about, in all its messy ways.
I am so lucky to have listened to this story.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, War, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Blood, Alcohol
Life is an adventure to be embraced with an open mind and loving heart.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Transphobia
Minor: Child death, Deadnaming, Miscarriage
Graphic: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Miscarriage
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Transphobia
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Cursing, Deadnaming, Racial slurs, Blood, Dementia, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Murder, Lesbophobia, Abandonment
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Miscarriage
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Classism
Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Carol and La-Tisha's stories are both completely heartbreaking but again it is so clever how their stories sort of link and mirror each other and we see the way both of them survive being raped by the same person.
I really loved a lot of the characters. Morgan was awesome. I loved Amma - like I liked how cool and open minded Amma was. I loved Yazz and actually it was really cool to see Yazz's friends and how Yazz gets more knowledgeable at university. I obviously loved Dominique and Carol and La-Tisha was awesome. I really really liked Bummi - like the way Bummi would do anything for her daughter. Like she was completely devoted but also illustrious and clever.
I think I've made it really clear that I did really enjoy this book although it is a really tough read. I actually listened to the audio book but I think where you do want to be able to go back and check things, I would probably recommend a reading book rather than the audio book (although the audio is very very good).
The book is very very clever and there are all little (I've called them) Easter eggs linking to different characters in other characters stories - like Morgan or Amma just sort of running through it. I think I read another review that compares it to Love Actually and they're completely right. Amma and Morgan are like the Bill Nighy and Mr Bean just bringing them all together.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent