Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson

6 reviews

gardant's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Xenophobia

Minor: Rape

sarahcherie's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I wasn't the biggest fan of this one. I went in expecting a lot of critique on the culture of the South, beyond this idea of "rat magic" and calling the German family "Nazis", both of which felt cheap in comparison to the things that could actually be said about the South's actions both spiritually and interpersonally. I think I would have preferred this book without the magical element, because I feel that the magic in play kind of cheapens the effect. For example,

Spoiler

Lorne's death at the end was not made more impactful by Max's inability to resurrect him, but could have been more impactful as a true critique of the religious zealotry and homophobia of the South, and should have been expanded upon.

The ending was not a true ending, in my opinion, and it felt as though the author did not know how to continue the story, so they decided to simply end it instead. The side characters were fairly indistinguishable to me, and the writing style at times came across as very slow and laborious to get through. I had very high hopes for this based off the synopsis, as many elements seemed to be something I would relate to, but perhaps my familiarity with the things being critiqued in this book contributed to my distaste for it, and someone who is an outsider to the religious culture of the South might find this more intriguing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

I wasn't the biggest fan of this one. I went in expecting a lot of critique on the culture of the South, beyond this idea of "rat magic" and calling the German family "Nazis", both of which felt cheap in comparison to the things that could actually be said about the South's actions both spiritually and interpersonally. I think I would have preferred this book without the magical element, because I feel that the magic in play kind of cheapens the effect. For example,

Lorne's death at the end was not made more impactful by Max's inability to resurrect him, but could have been more impactful as a true critique of the religious zealotry and homophobia of the South, and should have been expanded upon.

The ending was not a true ending, in my opinion, and it felt as though the author did not know how to continue the story, so they decided to simply end it instead. The side characters were fairly indistinguishable to me, and the writing style at times came across as very slow and laborious to get through. I had very high hopes for this based off the synopsis, as many elements seemed to be something I would relate to, but perhaps my familiarity with the things being critiqued in this book contributed to my distaste for it, and someone who is an outsider to the religious culture of the South might find this more intriguing.

lilyaugust's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Homophobia

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Antisemitism

Minor: Xenophobia and Abortion

packedjam's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

is this a terrible book? no, but i can't say i would particularly recommend it to anyone. so.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse

Minor: Xenophobia and Racism

herk's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia

carolinefaireymeese's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Hudson has and hasn't succeeded in equal measure portraying an Alabama where labels and religion and self-definition do and do not define everyone. By this, I mean that I (a South Carolinian) know well a queer South Carolina, an antiracist and diverse South Carolina, and a South Carolina with a dangerous, xenophobic, racist religious fervor. In Hudson's book, the fault lines of these countries edge and shake each other through proximity, which is somehow true and not true.

Max's perspective was essential. As another reviewer pointed out, his foreignness allowed for a closeness to the subject of poison-drinking and snake-eating religion that Pan's perspective wouldn't have brought. Growing up near a dangerous cult is one thing; being entranced by it is another.

I wanted more agency from Max, though. Until the very last pages, he effortlessly bridged the two Alabamas he inhabited with no consequences, with no thought to the future or his desires from it. Pan treated him terribly, to be sure, and he was taken advantage of by the entire football team as a new convert.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, and Xenophobia