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ashleypford's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- 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
5.0
dianet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
icalyn_13's review against another edition
4.0
This book is kind of crazy. It starts with an introduction that feels like it has told 90% of the story already, and do you ever hate Darlene, who is Eddie, our young hero's mom.
The story is a bit jarring to read. There is no such thing as quotation marks, which sometimes took a while to figure out if it was something being said or just thought. And: several chapters are told through the character of crack. Seriously. It sounds insane, but in this story, it works.
Regardless: this is one of those books that make you think. How often do you think about the person that picked your fruit or vegetables for you when you buy them at the store? I can tell you it rarely ever crossed my mind, but after reading this book, I suspect it will more.
I would like to think that places like Delicious Foods don't really exist, but they probably do--just not likely in the United States.
Good book, will make you think, so I recommend.
The story is a bit jarring to read. There is no such thing as quotation marks, which sometimes took a while to figure out if it was something being said or just thought. And: several chapters are told through the character of crack. Seriously. It sounds insane, but in this story, it works.
Regardless: this is one of those books that make you think. How often do you think about the person that picked your fruit or vegetables for you when you buy them at the store? I can tell you it rarely ever crossed my mind, but after reading this book, I suspect it will more.
I would like to think that places like Delicious Foods don't really exist, but they probably do--just not likely in the United States.
Good book, will make you think, so I recommend.
sjhaug's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
jessica_stenstrom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-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
3.5
I almost DNF’d this one about a third of the way in but I’m glad I continued. The beginning pages gripped me as we met Eddie who had just escaped the farm without his hands. It took me a bit to catch on to the fact that the author had personified crack as a character named Eddie. Once I figured that out, the story made more sense and was easier to progress through. While it’s a fictional story, the reality is that this could happen and likely does happen. The work profoundly speaks about the detriment of crack on individuals and families and the lasting impacts.
hannah_greendale's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.0
"Every black knows how to react to a tragedy. Just bring out a wheelbarrow full of the Same Old Anger, dump it all over the Usual Frustration, and water it with Somebody Oughtas...."
One of the narrators in Delicious Foods is cocaine. Yep, you read that right. It's the reason I was compelled to pick up this book. I had to know how Hannaham used this character to tell a story and how he chose to convey cocaine's voice. Reader, I was not disappointed.
The first chapter told from the perspective of cocaine (aka "Scotty") gives the impression that this book will be darkly comedic, but it's not. It's a tragic contemporary story about enslavement and exploitation. It's also a story of a mother's struggle with addiction: what it costs, what it takes from the person whose life it consumes, and how difficult it is to break free.
A slow burn that builds to a gruesome climax, Delicious Foods is a harrowing story of a mother and son's search for love, freedom, and forgiveness.
One of the narrators in Delicious Foods is cocaine. Yep, you read that right. It's the reason I was compelled to pick up this book. I had to know how Hannaham used this character to tell a story and how he chose to convey cocaine's voice. Reader, I was not disappointed.
The first chapter told from the perspective of cocaine (aka "Scotty") gives the impression that this book will be darkly comedic, but it's not. It's a tragic contemporary story about enslavement and exploitation. It's also a story of a mother's struggle with addiction: what it costs, what it takes from the person whose life it consumes, and how difficult it is to break free.
A slow burn that builds to a gruesome climax, Delicious Foods is a harrowing story of a mother and son's search for love, freedom, and forgiveness.
njk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
cassandralovesfeta's review against another edition
4.0
Very unique narrator in this novel which makes it a must read. I didn't connect with the main characters as much as I would like so I could not give it 5 stars. But definitely worth a read.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
4.0
Much better than his other book, God Says No. The book starts with a very riveting chapter. Mid-book I had trouble wanting to keep reading, but I plowed through and by 70%, I couldn't put it down.