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katbug'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Hate crime, Child death, Suicide, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Self harm and Suicide
keishlavz's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, Violence, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Animal death, and Child death
kades26'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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Death, Medical content, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Police brutality
Minor: Transphobia and Antisemitism
izzy_v'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
4.25
Graphic: Xenophobia, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Child death, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality, Self harm, Suicide, Antisemitism, Cursing, Homophobia, Grief, Death, and Murder
book_realm_roamer's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Child death, Racism, and Racial slurs
aseriesofmegan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Child death
Minor: Suicide and Drug abuse
mrhouse'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I think the book does show racism in America but it is not the author's story to tell. I think there are other ways it could have been done to avoid speaking from a black woman's perspective.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Child death, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, and Medical content
Minor: Suicide and Animal death
curious_oyster'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
3.25
Graphic: Hate crime, Medical content, Racial slurs, Child death, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
krisc1989'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
4.5
Moderate: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Child death, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide
lcl_reads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
As I was reading, I felt a bit conflicted about rating the book. I really appreciated this part of the author's note at the end: " I was writing to my own community - white people- who can very easily point to a neo-Nazi skinhead and say he's racist... but who can't recognize racism in themselves." I think my conflicted feelings are because this book is not written for me.
This book was bold in its pursuit and the amount of research and thought Picoult put into the topic was evident to me.
Some critiques I've read of the book are that Ruth's story is not as developed and I actually appreciated that. I would have loved to have more of the respectibility politics, colorism, and relationships between Ruth, her mother, and her sister explored. I also think Picoult was smart in identifying that that was not her story to tell nor was that the point of this particular book.
I think it is important to remember that no book can be everything, so, yes, this book is not everything, but it is the story I think was right for Picoult to tell to the audience she has, from her position, with the support of the research she did and for what it is, it was executed as well as it could have possibly been.
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Violence, Racial slurs, Child death, Homophobia, and Death
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Suicide