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jennanaps's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Medical content, Racism, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Hate crime, Classism, Colonisation, and Medical content
isaarusilor's review
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Racism, and Cancer
lemonsandligaments's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The topic of this book is incredibly pertinent in today’s world.
However, for a 100 page book, it’s quite a drag to get through. The pacing is very slow.
The writing style makes it seem like there are ten layers of bricks between you and the main character, and another ten between the main character and the rest of the cast.
This was quite fresh for the first few chapters, showing the main character’s internal monologue in a constant flow.
Then you have a doctors visit and a bunch of other events described that way, and it gets excruciating. This narrative method normally uses all 5 senses, but the main character only seems to be a fan of sight.
The part whereshe takes a walk during the party preparations is very important as she deliberated her situation with some finality , which I would expect to be isolated and direct with no padding for a stronger punch.
Unfortunately, I find that it is clouded by quite a bit of fluff and random references (which would work in less pivotal moments), and I recognise that this might be a matter of personal taste.
Giving the main character such a voice just makes everyone seem like paper cutouts, or a yell from the other end of a long tunnel. This is fine since the book is about the main character. In this case though, even the main character seems foreign.
I know her occupation and what she wants and experiences but there is not much more than that, perhaps this was on purpose. Not having other elements strongly tied to the book’s theme (e.g., maybe a bit about how she was as a child) makes her sound like she’s the manifestation of a checklist.
Elements not necessarily about her overt racist experiences or job can help humanise her, and make the book so much more moving.
The main point if this book is hammered in with the various anecdotes, especially with how the main character’s relationship is as transactional as it gets. I really liked her breakdown of that.
The rest of the anecdotes were just iterations of subtle verbal racism that did not delve into the deeper systemic aspects that some might not know about, which would’ve made for a good educational opportunity.
This book is probably for an audience that knows what they want out of it, as reading it without checking the blurb first has brought confusion.
Lastly, I feel that this book can be condensed into a collection of poems that contain the best descriptors and really nail the pacing of those tense moments.
If this book were about most other topics, this rating would be lower.
However, for a 100 page book, it’s quite a drag to get through. The pacing is very slow.
The writing style makes it seem like there are ten layers of bricks between you and the main character, and another ten between the main character and the rest of the cast.
This was quite fresh for the first few chapters, showing the main character’s internal monologue in a constant flow.
Then you have a doctors visit and a bunch of other events described that way, and it gets excruciating. This narrative method normally uses all 5 senses, but the main character only seems to be a fan of sight.
The part where
Unfortunately, I find that it is clouded by quite a bit of fluff and random references (which would work in less pivotal moments), and I recognise that this might be a matter of personal taste.
Giving the main character such a voice just makes everyone seem like paper cutouts, or a yell from the other end of a long tunnel. This is fine since the book is about the main character. In this case though, even the main character seems foreign.
I know her occupation and what she wants and experiences but there is not much more than that, perhaps this was on purpose. Not having other elements strongly tied to the book’s theme (e.g., maybe a bit about how she was as a child) makes her sound like she’s the manifestation of a checklist.
Elements not necessarily about her overt racist experiences or job can help humanise her, and make the book so much more moving.
The main point if this book is hammered in with the various anecdotes, especially with how the main character’s relationship is as transactional as it gets. I really liked her breakdown of that.
The rest of the anecdotes were just iterations of subtle verbal racism that did not delve into the deeper systemic aspects that some might not know about, which would’ve made for a good educational opportunity.
This book is probably for an audience that knows what they want out of it, as reading it without checking the blurb first has brought confusion.
Lastly, I feel that this book can be condensed into a collection of poems that contain the best descriptors and really nail the pacing of those tense moments.
If this book were about most other topics, this rating would be lower.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Racism
Moderate: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
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