Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

55 reviews

hnagarne's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Abortion, and Murder

lambchop12's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

It’s hard to find words for this short story collection, to be honest. It feels like what you’d get if you combined Sorry to Bother You and Black Mirror, and I mean that in (mostly) the best way possible. I can’t pick out a favorite story so I’ll just go through some of them and what I liked about them.

Made me the most emotional: “The Lion and the Spider” - I have a rough, weird relationship with my emotionally distant father who has left my family on multiple occasions so this story almost broke me, but also left me hopeful for a better future.

Left me in the most awe: “The Hospital Where” - I love me some good surrealism, okay? And this was just straight up “what’s going on” madness in a good way.

Had me thinking “oh jesus” the most times: “Through the Flash” - very very dark. Worth reading, but it was a smart move to put it at the end because by the time you finish it, you’ll feel a certain amount of emotional exhaustion from just thinking about the trauma the Flash and the following events have had on people. Also another one where the father/child relationship made me emotional.

Made me the maddest at society: “The Finkelstein 5” and “Zimmer Land” - I won’t spoil these, just know that they deal with racism and the unfair deaths of Black people (especially children). Heavy subject matter but meaningful.

Had me the most confused: “Lark Street” - this was the one story I disliked because I couldn’t tell if it was pro-choice or pro-forced birth lol. Interesting premise though.

The rest of the stories are interesting, I just don’t have much to say about them. Very good collection. 9/10.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

jessthanthree's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs

nerdyprettythings's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective

4.0

A couple of these missed the mark for me, but most of them are five stars, and I can’t wait to read Adjei-Brenyah’s novel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Abortion, and Murder

sarah984's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

3.5

Some of the stories in this collection were phenomenal, visceral writing - speculative fiction at its very best - but the rest varied between forgettable and downright bad. I would say it's worth it for the good ones.

Favourites: Through the Flash, Zimmer Land, Friday Black, The Finkelstein Five

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Cannibalism, and Classism

glf's review

dark funny reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Every story had me putting the book down and staring into space. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Sexual violence

bay22's review

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Eating disorder and Fatphobia

arieloley's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A lot of really reflective and important topics covered in this anthology of short stories. Lots of twists that weren’t expected in a very clever and dark way. Made me think of Black Mirror but as a book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Abortion, and Murder

savvylit's review

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

All of the stories in Friday Black are skillfully crafted speculative fiction; each one focuses on a slightly exaggerated version of the real world at its worst. There's a whole lot of dystopia: an amusement park where people can live out their most violent fantasies, a clothing store on Black Friday where the customers fight to the death over their desired purchases, a Groundhog Day-style pre-apocalyptic event... Adjei-Brenyah flawlessly creates realms that are both surreal yet terrifyingly reminiscent of all-too-ordinary scenarios. Overall, Friday Black is a remarkable and unforgettable commentary on morality, racial injustices, and peak-capitalist consumerism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Abortion, and Murder

jesromas's review

challenging dark hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. This is the best short story collection I’ve ever read. Probably going to write a full review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Abortion, and Murder