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josy_trapp's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, and Rape
Moderate: Murder and Miscarriage
sydneybedell's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Death, Violence, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Excrement
franzi_'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? N/A
3.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, Xenophobia, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Addiction, Torture, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Pedophilia
Minor: Pregnancy
amberinbookland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Trafficking, Slavery, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, Torture, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Child death, Cannibalism, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
booksjessreads'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
4.0
The concept of this book was brilliant, combining two pieces of traditional slavery literature - the slaver's manifesto and the escape story - and allowed us to gain both the slaver and enslaved perspectives. The whole concept of white people being enslaved was what also drew me to the book. It was a lot of the profound and creative word choices in relation to this that really hooked me.
I noticed also that the slaver's writings in Blonde Roots drew influence from slaver's and travellers writings, such as Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness which added an eerie and uncomfortable sense to the manifesto presented in the novel. The dark humour crafted around white culture also added an interesting dimension and the satire in regards to this was so well crafted!
Whilst there were more "humorous" parts, it goes without saying that there are much darker themes at play and it did get quite heavy. However, it's a novel that really allowed me to engage and follow the characters and nevertheless I really enjoyed it!
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Child death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape and Miscarriage
andreiaoh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I was slow to warm up to this book and it was not an easy read at all but incredibly powerful and Evaristo's writing was wonderful. I loved the mixed medium style of this novel from standard prose, to non-fiction-esque passages, posters, advertisements and diary entries and I think it definitely made this a little easier to digest, particularly around the half way point.
This novel was simultaneously exactly what I expected as well as took me off guard completely and it'll definitely be a story I'll be thinking about for a long time.
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Vomit, Trafficking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Excrement
kyras's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Excrement, Genocide, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Violence
bryonyporter's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
beckysbookshelf's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Body horror, Blood, Death, Excrement, Violence, Slavery, Racism, and Kidnapping