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b_easelbub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Hate crime, Outing, Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Colonisation
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Transphobia, Racism, Ableism, and Addiction
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Homophobia, Infidelity, Grief, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexism, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Classism, Lesbophobia, Slavery, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Colonisation, Violence, Suicide attempt, Outing, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia
Minor: War, Fatphobia, Excrement, Ableism, Gun violence, Dementia, Vomit, and Transphobia
junglejelly'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? Yes
3.0
One thing for sure is these characters are complex and their actions and thoughts are incredibly relatable.
The downsides of the book is that it's filled with a lot of phobic language (which I understand why), unlikeable characters and the ending could have been a bit longer. The ending felt a bit rushed and cliche as the characters did not reflect on their own flaws and still had
Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, Hate crime, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Transphobia, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Eating disorder, and Rape
partly_stars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's an interesting portrait of the a dysfunctional marriage of a certain generation of Carrabiean migrants. Both Barry and Carmel are so bad for each other and often times just unplesant people but atcthe same time the author treats tgem with kindness and humanity to see where they are coming from
Wvery character is distinct and feels so grounded in their experiences that is so different to what I know. Evaristo does a great job of showing how people are shaped by life and how there are both good and bad thing in them without falling into stereotypes or clichés
The beggining of the novel was quite chellenging for me - it was often times unplesan read. Bad things about Barry and Carmel just getting worse as they are in their toxic marriage - it feels like a contras to the end of the book that starts feeling liek a breath of fresh air after years of simmwring in the same stiffling atmosphere. The novel is also written in what I'm assuming is Black/Carrabian vernacular which I was unfamiliar with and since English is my seco d langauge, was a bit of a learning curve but it gives the narration an unique and personal feel.
The whole novel feels very groudbed in the experiences of certain generation and type of people and tackles a lot of topics very gracefully and in an organic way
I also liked that we had chapters from both Barry's and Carmel's perspective even if Barry is the protahonist. I also liked how different the writing style in Carmel's chapters is. It feels very personal to her and completely dofferent to Barrys which fits well with themes of this novel
Anyway its 5am and ive been reading it the whole night after getting tobthe part when everything started falling down and changing so they could get out of their 50 years long status quo by the end
Very flawed charcaters but also compelling and i sympathised with them while also seeing and calling out thwir flaws. Feel very human
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Hate crime
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Misogyny
miri42's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Homophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Death of parent, Cancer, and Sexual content
novella42's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Classism
Minor: Dementia
emilo'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
3.75
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol, Death, and Religious bigotry
freddie_mewcury's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Infidelity, Homophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Outing