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sarahmcg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My rating: 5⭐️
What to expect:
Dual POV, 2 young black women
Themes of love, family, and motherhood
1950s Philadelphia and Washington DC
My review:
After reading Johnson’s book Yellow Wife, I added the House of Eve to my TBR knowing I would love it. The juxtaposition of Ruby and Eleanor’s stories was so thought-provoking with seeing similarities in their stories, but also how race, class, colorism, and societal expectations affected them in different ways. This novel was at times harrowing and heartbreaking, and at other times joyful and hopeful. I enjoyed seeing Eleanor’s passion for archival work, and Ruby’s dreams of becoming an optometrist; I love reading about brilliant women, and the difficult choices they have to make.
Something I love about Johnson is that she based characters in her book on real people. It makes them so vibrant and it is so easy to empathize with and cheer for them. She addresses difficult topic realistically, but with compassion.
I listened to this on audiobook, and really loved the narration by Ariel Blake and Nicole Lewis. Plus, the author read an author’s note at the end which is worth a listen.
Graphic: Racism, Miscarriage, Classism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, and Infertility
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
Minor: Misogyny
janieb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage
cayleybp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Forced institutionalization, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Domestic abuse
rosewa'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Miscarriage
leasebrown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Miscarriage
pitts1ef'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
4.0
Moderate: Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Child death, Infertility, Abortion, Cultural appropriation, Death, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Minor: Vomit, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Racism, Violence, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Rape
kmaron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Moderate: Miscarriage and Racism
drnaynay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Classism, Rape, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Sexism, Alcohol, Infertility, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Racism
amiew's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion
amanda884's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage