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haileyhardcover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I can see what Giddings was trying to do with this book. The themes of sexism and racism are loud and undoubtedly important, but damn I wish they were presented with a better written story. I’m really sad to be rating this one so low.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Animal death, Gore, Blood, and Torture
Minor: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Death
faliiza'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
This book had the feminist in me raging. I was shaking in anger at points, so close to throwing the book. But it was not only the women who are wronged in this world, white supremacy is wild at large and black people are paying the price. And add to that poor parenting and generally sucky people. There are so many things wrong here, a real dystopian cornucopia of awfulness.
But. There’s also light. Beaty and wonder. MAGIC. Love. Friendship. True reflection and revelation of oneself. Power and imagination.
I truly love this book. It seeped into my soul.
Here’s a bunch of quotes from the book. Most of them made me angry, some sad. All stuck with me.
”In the class textbook was a chapter titled "The Protectors." It was all about how women needed men to guide them and help them stay on the path of light. Marriage is, yes, for love, but also a way to keep us all safe.”
"The only safe place for a woman is 100 percent alone."
"When the great creator made women, he made the glue that holds this world together. Women give birth, they care for their children, their husbands, their parents when they age. They create beautiful homes, beautiful meals, and see the world with gentleness and care.
"Women were made smaller and gentler and kinder and obedient because without those qualities the whole world would crumble. Isn't it miraculous? To be made something so wonderful, to always know your path and to never be lost."
“In every room of that house, I told myself, If you keep acting normal, you can have a life.”
“In every room I told myself I had so many things other people were desperate for, so shut up and lean in to being happy.”
“How long has it been since someone spoke your name with tenderness and not irritation or boredom or anger or threats?”
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
minella's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Grief, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
rcsreads'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: Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Homophobia, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Torture
superiour_medium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Torture, Misogyny, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Colonisation, and Blood
Minor: Body horror
jenmcreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Grief
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
- 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
There were so many interesting layers to this story, and Jo’s relationship with Tiana made my heart ache and my eyes well in a very specific Black mom to Black daughter way. Mother daughter relationships are my Achilles heel (see: me crying my way through EEAAO and Turning Red), so seeing one in my shade was a bit of an arrow to the chest in the best way.
All that being said, this book ends, not quite hopefully, but upliftingly; everything isn’t sunshine and roses, but there is promise of a better future as created by community. nothing materially changes, but the feeling it gives is a positive one. I really liked this book, and will be buying it in print for my shelf :)
Graphic: Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Homophobia, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, and Biphobia
cryfest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Murder
meganmalonefranklin's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Death of parent, Blood, Misogyny, Torture, Lesbophobia, Gore, and Abandonment
alexandryareads'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Sexism, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Biphobia, Police brutality, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Racism
Minor: Deportation, Animal cruelty, and Suicidal thoughts