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just_one_more_paige'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Ableism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Excrement and Murder
shottel'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 writing style is immaculate as well, with perfect balance and flow and a dry sense of sarcasm. The presentation choices (font, spacing, etc.) present this book like great work of literature, like a fancy looking Bible, and it manages to earn these dressings. The plot is well-paced, with just the right amount of twists and turns. I couldn’t suggest a single phrasing or word choice or paragraph restructuring that I feel would be better.
The sole reason this is not a 5/5 review is that for all its excellence in depicting numerous different ethnic groups and people of different ages and abilities, the identity of the author as a straight man comes through. It’s the sole mark against the book’s virtual universality, an impressive feat given it’s situated very firmly in interwar-period Pennsylvania. Nevertheless, the repeated references to women’s breasts and buttocks and the greater priority men have in the story, among other things, was hard for me to miss.
Nevertheless, this book is still very close to a must-read. If you can manage the lengthy list of heavy topics the book covers (it pulls absolutely no punches with regards to the difficulties of life) and you think you even might possibly be interested in the setting and style, it’s worth your time.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Hate crime, Rape, Excrement, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Slavery, Medical content, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
sonjaelisee'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
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Ableism, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death, Violence, Excrement, and Murder
lexcellent's review against another edition
- 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? No
1.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Pedophilia
elletrixie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
cassondradubois'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
rorikae'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
Starting with a body being found in a well, the story then goes back in time to follow the story of the different characters that live in Pottstown. This largely Jewish and Black town has seen its fair share of tragedy, hardships, and adapting to changing times. Exploring each character and how their lives intersect with those around them, McBride slowly takes us through time to answer whose body is at the bottom of that well.
McBride does an excellent job of creating a multilayered, complex story of one small community. Told through vibrant characters full of faults, it feels as if McBride has observed these characters instead of creating them. They feel that true to life. It is easy to get swept up in their lives. The body at the beginning sets off an interesting question but really this story shines in the down to earth characters going about their daily lives.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Gaslighting
mselvis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Racism, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
lindseyph'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
kamrynkoble'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
3.5
My main complaint is the sheer volume of characters and the lack of a clear goal/plot/central story. And for all of the random stories I had to read about them, I really don't know them well at all. I told my cousin that if I was trying to make these characters in the Sims, I would have a bear of a time trying to come up with three traits for any of them.
Reading felt like a bit of a chore, and I think I would've taken much longer if I wasn't trying to meet my book club deadline. The nature of it just made me skim, and when I skimmed, I missed a lot of what makes this book strong. I ended up transitioning to audio because of how much I was skimming, but then I struggled to focus on the audio too. I ended up reading a summary that made me appreciate it a bit more, and I think I would've benefitted from active discussion as I read rather than just being independent until the end.
I do wish that the setting would've been more grounded. I feel like I can't clearly picture much of it, and it was so important to the story.
The strength lies in the themes. It provides ample opportunity for reflection and discussion. For these reasons though, the content warnings abound. Make sure to scan the list ahead of time if you have any common triggers.
While the summary I read helped me appreciate the bigger picture of this novel more, I think it often gets lost in the slog with this one. I didn't need McBride to be heavier-handed, but a little more focus/less distraction would've made it more impactful in my opinion.
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Violence, Excrement, and Murder