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aprescriptiontoread's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Police brutality
misspennreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide
klbreyfogle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
literaryintersections's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked up Blacktop Wasteland earlier this year - I had it on my shelf for a minute and was in a book slump. Lord. Lord. Lord. I finished it in 2 days, reeling with visions of car chases, people catching on fire, and small southern towns complexly created with racism, community, poverty, booze, and car grease.
The second I saw ATSB I preordered it. Then waited too many days for B&N to deliver it (lol). And was once again blown away. Cosby’s use of language is unmatched: descriptive and clear, vividly crafting a story that is lush and inventive. The characters jump off the page and feel like real life - Titus especially felt 3D. Racism and misogyny, homophobia and poverty, the bastardization of religion, all intertwined with love and family, Black man vulnerability and community. The violence is horrible but you can’t look away, turning page after page to try to get a glimpse of the antagonist - to understand what would make a person do such horrible things.
No one comes out unscathed in this book. And it left me thinking about these complexities far longer after I closed the cover. Do yourself a favor. Read ATSB. Then read Blacktop Wasteland. And join me on this journey as an absolute fan of Cosby’s work.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, and Death of parent
feralbookwife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookshelf_al's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Police brutality
mollysbooklist's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
My thoughts:
1. The audiobook narrator was perfect for the characters. He did a great job.
2. I feel like there is something left unsatisfied with this book, but I think it’s supposed to feel like that though. It’s got a sense of melancholy to the ending.
3. This isn’t a book where you’ll guess who did it. You find out along with the MC which I kind of liked.
4. The commentary on race and religion is excellent.
**Please check the content warnings for this book if you have any triggers**
CW/TW:
Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury / injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass school shootings, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, alcohol abuse, and illegal adoption
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Police brutality