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hannahlee's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Colonisation, Drug use, Infertility, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Dementia, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Moderate: Vomit, Violence, and Sexual assault
catapocalypse's review
- 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
5.0
Mostly, these are interconnected stories narrated by the same man at various points of his life on the Penobscot Reservation. They focus on the complex connections he has with his family and friends, and frequently involve themes of sickness and healing as well. There's pain and heartbreak, but also compassion, and so much great humor throughout. The writing is beautifully crafted, and the characters so vividly real, I feel as though I'll miss them now that I've finished reading, mess and all.
This is one of my favorite reads of this year. I look forward to the novel Talty's working on now!
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Dementia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, Violence, and Child death
Minor: Sexual violence, Vomit, and Blood
amberlfaris's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Violence, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Dementia
_belty_'s review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Drug use, Dementia, Classism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Child death
annemaries_shelves's review
- 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
3.5
Part of it probably was my incorrect expectation that there would be speculative elements, when it was actually a contemporary setting (that incorporated Penobscot Nation worldviews).
I really enjoyed actively reading the stories but found it easy to put down and I wasn't super motivated to pick it up every time. The writing was clear and strong and I think Talty will continue to improve and grow as a writer. My main issue with the collection is the sometimes confusing timeline. Because he opted to shuffle the order of stories out of linear time, it took a while to place each one when it was happening in our main character, David's, life. His character work was excellent, though, and even through limited third person persctive, I got a good sense of who each person in David's life was. I was rooting so much for David and his friends and family but things never really improved - frustrating but oftentimes realistic.
Overall, I don't think this will be a collection that sticks with me strongly (it's been a few days and I'm already losing details) but I will definitely keep an eye out for future works by Talty. I think this will work for a lot of people though, and encourage readers to seek it out if contemporary short stories tackling the lives of Indigenous (Penobscot) families and young men is of interest.
CW: The book came with a sticker for references to death, self-harm, and childhood trauma. I would also include on-page interrupted rape, drug use (especially prescription meds) and alcohol use, and infant death.
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Child death, and Death
Minor: Racial slurs, Mental illness, Medical content, Self harm, Violence, and Racism
uglypopcorn's review
- 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
The characters are so vivid & real, I was looking forward to my reading time just to hangout with them in my mind. I found myself laughing at the little actions that shaped these complicated, flawed beings. But also, I felt all the twists and turns of sadness and anger in my gut. Development occurs with fluidity and grit - and not in the direction you might expect.
I'm amazed these chapters were published at different dates. They weave together so seamlessly!
Hands down one of my favorite novels. I want more from this author. I *need* more.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
sidneyreads_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, Colonisation, and Abandonment
Moderate: Vomit, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Minor: Blood, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Child death, and Classism
oatesy's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Drug abuse and Alcoholism
Moderate: Racism and Violence
Minor: Child death
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Car accident, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Dementia, Drug use, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia and Ableism
sarajane96's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Rape and Violence