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spooky_coochie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Grief, Classism, Ableism, and Violence
dustghosts'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
4.75
The structure: a series of vignettes, each from a different main character, and repeated in parts, is really interesting and admirable from a writing point of view. The loneliness that sets each of these characters apart also strings them together in a way that’s hopeful, strange, sorrowful, frustrating. The selfishness of that loneliness, and the way that it prevents each of the characters from recognizing it in each other, I found heartbreaking at times. Very accessible writing, even today, and again— the empathy and real feeling imbued into each character shines.
I had to take long breaks in-between reads, here, but I think that’s more to do with seasonal garbáge than anything. It weighs heavy to read a book where the characters’ troubles and gripes still reverberate today, and especially when you’re so close to each of these characters. A theme of futility vs optimism (“what is it all for?”) plagues character and reader alike. I think I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time, and I wish I had more folks to talk about it with!!!
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Racism, Suicide, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Hate crime, Gun violence, Antisemitism, and Ableism
Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, Blood, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Violence
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kinda depressing though how this 80 year old novel is making some of the exact same social commentary you could make today. (You know, the racism and the capitalism.)
What does it say about me if John Singer is my favorite character? Am I projecting onto him just like the characters of the book? I don't think so? I just like misunderstood and depressed characters? I do not get his relationship with Antonapoulos, but it makes me feel bad for him (and thus want to protect him and like him.)
Moderate: Antisemitism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship
crizzle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racism, Violence, Torture, Alcohol, Gun violence, Grief, and Addiction
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Ableism, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have to admit it took me a long, long time to get into this book, so much so that I kept wondering if I was right to keep reading for the first 150 pages. Something in the language made it hard for me to read with any fluidity, although there weren't particularly complex words or idioms specific to the time this book was written. Then, without my noticing it, I got attached to these very flawed characters and started to care. They are very different from each other by the author does a spectacular job of giving each one a voice. I can't speak to the disability representation. I'm honestly not sure how well that is done, especially in the first pages where it intersects with fat representation.
On the whole, though the story and characters are rooted in their times, this book has a timeless quality to it given the number of themes that are still sadly relevant today (see the content warnings). There are some really harrowing passages, but they all are quite short and the changes in points of view makes it easier to bear. All in all it wasn't an easy book to read for several reasons, but I'm glad I did. Definitely not a favourite, but one I can tick off my classics' list.
Graphic: Gun violence, Alcoholism, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Police brutality, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
brianna_moye'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: Racism and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Antisemitism
Minor: Cancer
elphaba105's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Police brutality, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Death, Racism, and Ableism
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism and Cancer
melissacushman'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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Police brutality, Mental illness, Death, Cancer, and Alcoholism
sophee_568's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I couldnt help but notice similarities between Mic Kelly and the writer herself. Their fathers have the same occupation, and they both took piano lessons. Whenever i read chapters that dealt with Mic's life (inner and outer) i felt like i was breaching someone's privacy. Reading about Mic growing up, changing, falling in love, struggling, felt intimate, delicate and relatable. She is my favourite character.
Second favourite character is Singer, a deaf&mute man who spent most of his life living with his best friend Antonapulos. I wont say much about them because it would be best to dive into this book knowing as little as possible and discover all the relationships in your own pace. It is a magical experience. Singer and Antonapulos' friendship has an uneven dynamic where you're not really sure who benefits from it. It would be a good topic for an in depth analysis.
One of the easiest 5 stars ive ever given.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: War and Suicide