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hollyrebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Impactful and informative with compelling characters and a unique method of storytelling. A beautiful piece that I’d recommend to anyone.
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
htedesco's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Minor: Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Vomit
mirandalikesbooks's review
- 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
It is awe inspiring and heart breaking how many generations were and still are affected by slavery. How slavery has direct ties to the oppression and cyclical struggles of black people in America and in Africa. White oppression has killed generations of black joy.
This story demonstrates the struggle of being a woman so brilliantly too. How many generations of woman went undefined until a man defined her.
I learned so much through the course of this book. The birth of our modern prison industrial complex being born of the enslavement of African and Black men is something that makes perfect sense. But it was laid out so clearly here. Some of the violence was so vividly painted that I keep retracing those scenes in my mind. Some of the heartbreak too.
Absolute must read. We have been privileged to not know these stories for long enough. And we are privileged now to see these stories through the perspective of each of these characters.
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, and Police brutality
hmw102's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
zephsd's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Slavery
mollz12's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book follows two sisters that found two different dates. One as a slave on a boat, the other sold and rich. They continue to follow their heirs as the time passes. So beautiful and yet so dark and emotional.
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, and Violence
spicycronereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
By telling the story of sisters whose paths diverge and their subsequent generations, the author paints a vivid portrait of how the violence of the trans-Atlantic slave trade continues to haunt the descendants of those enslaved and those left behind to deal with the legacies of British Imperialism. Each chapter follows a different line of descent from Effia and Esi, the aforementioned sisters. As a result you don’t get complex development of any one character but you do see the development of generational trauma, family healing, and love.
There are a couple of moderately graphic SA scenes told in third person. These are not gratuitous, nor are they done in some kind misguided way in which “historical accuracy” is used as an excuse to deploy SA as a prop for character development. The scenes align with the violence of the slave trade and you cannot tell this story without acknowledging the many forms of reproductive violence, including SA.
Overall this is a beautiful and devastating read.
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
cocolarry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and War
kellyung's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
greenan26's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement and Excrement