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daniscorner'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: Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Child death, Drug use, and Death
blackcatkai's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this type of contemporary isn't usually my go-to, so I had a bit of a hard time getting into it, but overall a really good read. Johnson has a way with words and I'd be interested in what she writes next.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Violence, Bullying, Blood, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Drug use, Death of parent, Infidelity, Infertility, and Sexual content
alyx_d's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Racism
Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Cursing, Gun violence, Drug abuse, and Drug use
sam_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Grief, Drug use, and Bullying
Minor: Sexual content, Miscarriage, Cancer, and Animal cruelty
janeycanuck's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Drug use and Drug abuse
lklitup's review
- 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
4.5
This book centered wholly around family. What, or who, makes a family? What expectations are set simply because of familial ties? What duties are to be upheld? When does the individual self give way to the familial whole? Is there a breaking point amongst family? Should there be?
Lena and Midnight’s stories— individually and as a whole— warmed my heart, broke it, and put it back together again.
The Kindest Lie handled racism and classism in both big topic discussions, with outright acknowledgments, and everyday nuance. The themes were intertwined, layered, fully realized... This novel truly does it all.
I had two main gripes, one writing-wise and one more personally based. First, I felt the storyline about Stanley DeAngelo was unnecessary. The way the community of Ganton was described, built upon, and shown to the reader, I would’ve very easily believed that the families and church handled their business amongst themselves. I’ll leave it at that to prevent spoilers.
Second, the personal note, I was aggravated whenever Ruth said “my son.” I thought it took too long for someone to put Ruth to her paces about how she could imagine sort of claim to the title “my son.” Ruth’s actions at the riverbank belied this very idea of motherhood. Her motives and actions were selfish; Ruth’s behavior in that scene was antithetical to all of the decisions that had been made for Ruth to get her to that point. In other words, whereas so many decisions prior to that point made for Ruth were motivated by love and her own betterment (whether she liked it or not), Ruth’s decision in that moment was for her own (mistaken? misguided?) absolution.
I am of the firm belief biology has no bearing on a family. Perhaps if I were a mother, I’d be empathetic to Ruth. I am not, though, and adoption holds the dearest place in my heart.
All said, I loved this book and would enthusiastically recommend!
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, and Racism