Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott

49 reviews

katielong84's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Death of parent, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Child death, and Racism

siobhanward's review

reflective medium-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

3.0

If this whole book had focused on Soot's storyline, it would have been a fantastic read. However, Soot was overshadowed by the author and his journey to promote his mysterious book. Maybe it was just too meta for me. I don't know. What I do know, is that some parts were fantastic: Soot and his story, the end of the book, and interactions between the author and the Kid. Unfortunately, the rest of the book just kind of dragged for me and I found myself waiting impatiently for the plot to move past the author and back to Soot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Gun violence, Death, Violence, Racism, Death of parent, and Child death

christineplum's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

wow. there are not many books that I read that I believe are true “modern classics.” as in, required reading both for poignant content and for the formidable usage of literary devices. I plan to revisit this with something to annotate in hand, because it’s worth the reread and attention to detail.

I should add that I listened to the audiobook, and I very much enjoyed the narrator. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Gun violence

readingrandbow's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Gun violence, and Racism

rainbowarpaint's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Murder

hanley's review

dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

i think calling your book "Hell of a Book" and then having it be one of those meta stories in which there is an author with a book of the same title creates high expectations. yet Jason Mott managed to surpass them all and I enthusiastically concede-- it's a hell of a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Violence, Racial slurs, and Gun violence

whataboutzana's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Child death, Death of parent, and Racism

Moderate: Sexism and Panic attacks/disorders

bookgardendc's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The title does the book justice. I’ve never read anything quite like this - it’s funny and complex and deeply profound and yet somehow two-thirds of the book manages to 
 feel fairly light. I clearly felt the inner struggles of the characters, and the generational trauma that African Americans must experience. Beautiful book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Child death, Hate crime, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Alcohol

Trauma is a major feature. This book centers on police shootings of black men and boys. While descriptions aren’t graphic, it is an ever present theme.

megdye487's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Death, and Racism

jbosio's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

I loved the writing, but I struggled with where the author was going with the story. I did love the ending though. Very thought-provoking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Police brutality