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asphodel04's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Outing, Sexual content, Animal death, Classism, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Sexual content, Abandonment, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Excrement, Gaslighting, Genocide, Incest, Murder, Death of parent, and Hate crime
solaria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Child abuse, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Bullying
cheesepuppy's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Classism, Colonisation, Sexual content, Rape, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
eleven_hummingbird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sexual and domestic violence are a paramount theme throughout. Margot's narrative largely follows her struggle to climb above hotel work and prostitution, while also balancing the weight of family and her romantic interest, the latter expanding into a major narrative exploring saphism and homophobia. Most of the female cast have histories of sexual violence, which plays importance throughout.
Wealth, or lackthereof, is another major theme. The impoverished backgrounds of most of the cast is starkly contrasted with the wealth of foreigners and the tourism industry, further split by the overlap of language, class, and skin color.
Impelled to be successful by her mother, who scrapes a living selling trinkets to tourists, Margot passes on most of her earnings towards her sister's education, while Thandi herself struggles to find her own identity and desires.
The conflict of sacrifice and blame between the family ultimately coalesces into an underlying question of autonomy.
A very good debut novel.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
onewoman_bookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia and Rape
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse
abbie_'s review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
joisaddler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Animal death, Racism, Classism, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Hate crime
jennazim's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Homophobia, Rape, and Religious bigotry
eliasiexil'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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Trafficking, and Toxic relationship
naoewald's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pedophilia