Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana

5 reviews

shlymiller's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Child death and Grief

salemander's review

4.5

very beautifully written and tragic collection of stories. wasn’t a fan of the language and treatment of the chinese characters in one of the stories, it really wasn’t necessary. the mrs. davis and litefeet chapters made me so fucking sad for those kids, the education system is so fucked and i know those stories came from real experiences. overall a very interesting book and the way it was written phonetically was really cool!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Grief, Classism, Ableism, Fatphobia, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

I don't know how to review this.   It was vivid, raw, and disturbing.   So I didn't "like" it,  but I'm glad I listened to it.   If you want to understand how privileged you are,  this book will help.    It's a series of monologs - better to listen to than read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Child death, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Gun violence, Medical content, and Toxic relationship

grapie_deltaco's review

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

This collection is an interesting one. 

We receive glimpses into the lives of various tenants in a single apartment building in New York. All struggling to make ends meet. All aimless trying to make things work. All deeply flawed and stuck. 

I think the beauty of the writing in this book, though, comes from Fofana’s decision to write each story phonetically on top of the deeply and jarringly distinct voices that vary from story to story. The words flow so naturally it reads like a transcript of events rather than a fictional story. 

And the story <i>lite feet</i> simply broke me. 

There’s a deeply uncomfortable chapter featuring a tenant with disgusting treatment toward a Chinese man who owns a local restaurant that I’m split on. Although it’s a raw look into an ignorant mind, the story would function the exact same without the use of dated and offensive terminology. 

CW: sexual harassment, brief reference to child molestation and murder, addiction and heavy implications/mentions of substance abuse, brief reference to stalking and pedophilia, racism (including dated & offensive terms referring to Chinese and Roma people), brief use of ableist slur, brief reference to domestic abuse, child death, death of loved ones, grief

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Grief, Child death, Sexual harassment, and Drug abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Addiction, Violence, and Murder

cheyrohm's review

emotional sad fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Death

Minor: Grief, Violence, and Drug use