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simonemaybe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment
mitzee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed it okay but too based in reality compared to what I would prefer to read (sci-to/fantasy). One of those books that winds the stories of a few snippets of individual’s lives that all seem to come together at the end. It wasn’t bad necessarily but I did begin to get distracted about halfway through. Definitely cared more about Ma Taffy and Kaia’s stories but less interested with Bedward. I did feel like I learned a bit about lives and cultures that I don’t experience often.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Excrement
Moderate: Death and Violence
spinesinaline's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As the author says in the intro, August Town is a real-life neighbourhood in Jamaica and while some of its real history is brought into the story, the titular neighbourhood is an intentionally fictional entity. From the first scene, you can feel the tension is this town building towards some unfortunate climax. We slowly get to know the characters as Ma Taffy reveals the spiritual and painful history of the town that has led to this moment, jumping in time and from perspective to perspective, each with a different view of the town and the trouble to come.
Along with the storytelling by Ma Taffy, there is an unseen narrator who seems to have a complete view of the town and I loved the way the author creatively uses this narrator to guide the story. It’s a heavy, sad read but one that creates such a stunning picture of this town, both real and fictional, and the people who may share these stories. This was a highlight read of the year and one I’m sure I will return to.
Along with the storytelling by Ma Taffy, there is an unseen narrator who seems to have a complete view of the town and I loved the way the author creatively uses this narrator to guide the story. It’s a heavy, sad read but one that creates such a stunning picture of this town, both real and fictional, and the people who may share these stories. This was a highlight read of the year and one I’m sure I will return to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Blood, and Excrement
chattie_the_mad_chatter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
This book is a different genre to what I usually read. It felt like folklore, local history to a country and culture I know nothing about, so I appreciate being able to learn and be let in through reading this.
I enjoyed the story craft, through storytelling and weaving in and out of past and present and through different characters. There is a main plot point that holds them together, but if you enjoy a linear story or a strong connection to a protagonist this may not be for you. I felt that Augstown was our main protagonist and the different characters the layers of history and lives that make it who it is. All the individual human characters felt fully realised, but we moved fluidly through them getting segments of their lives. I am a reader that likes to fully immerse in a character, so I did not get that emotionsl connection I usually want with the characters.
But that was not the story's purpose.
I enjoyed the story craft, through storytelling and weaving in and out of past and present and through different characters. There is a main plot point that holds them together, but if you enjoy a linear story or a strong connection to a protagonist this may not be for you. I felt that Augstown was our main protagonist and the different characters the layers of history and lives that make it who it is. All the individual human characters felt fully realised, but we moved fluidly through them getting segments of their lives. I am a reader that likes to fully immerse in a character, so I did not get that emotionsl connection I usually want with the characters.
But that was not the story's purpose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Abortion, and Classism
Minor: Sexual harassment
shannabanana6's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
This was a good book, very well written and very captivating plot, although also very intense. I really enjoyed how evident throughout the book that history and context were integral to the plot. And the reality of this magic that the Rastafari community holds within them is at the center of everything, despite/in spite of the whiteness and colonization trying to snuff it out. And at the end all the jumps through time and from character to character came together and made perfect sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Excrement, Police brutality, and Colonisation
rworrall78's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Absolutely incredible. Poetic, magical (which isn't normally my thing) but in a very real and robust way. Full of really important history and a story of how oppression echoes and continues down the centuries, but told as a fictionalised version of August Town near where the author grew up. Tense and sad but also joyful and beautiful. I absolutely loved it and was left with so much to think about and to act on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Excrement, Police brutality, and Colonisation
kaneebli's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Excrement, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
cthornhill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Without doubt one of the best books I have ever read. This writing is nuanced, mind-bending, beautiful, raw and electric. It’s the sort of book that makes me want to take back all previous five star reviews because a new bar has been set.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Police brutality
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Excrement
Minor: Child death, Rape, and Slavery
znvisser's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness and Excrement
Minor: Gun violence and Infidelity
Be cautious if you are sensitive to eye-related violence