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bgoodbookclub'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
4.5
I do think that it went long in a few areas but overall, I loved how to the two stories intersected. They were both very different but similar.
I did not read Yellow Wife so I cannot compare this book to that one but I think Johnson is an amazing author and I would definitely read another book by her!
This book is devastating and has a lot of topics around pregnancy and miscarriage so I would definitely check the content warnings before reading!
Graphic: Racial slurs and Miscarriage
Moderate: Racism and Abortion
annbleone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Confinement
thekrujue'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Racism
missprint's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and Racism
Moderate: Religious bigotry
aritson90's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Self harm, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, and Rape
mdavis26's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Rape, Racism, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Alcohol, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
jazful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Classism, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Colonisation, Drug use, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Blood, Bullying, and Colonisation
sugarcainn'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Racism, and Violence
rosiewants2read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, and Racism
sarahmcg'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
5.0
My rating: 5⭐️
What to expect:
Dual POV, 2 young black women
Themes of love, family, and motherhood
1950s Philadelphia and Washington DC
My review:
After reading Johnson’s book Yellow Wife, I added the House of Eve to my TBR knowing I would love it. The juxtaposition of Ruby and Eleanor’s stories was so thought-provoking with seeing similarities in their stories, but also how race, class, colorism, and societal expectations affected them in different ways. This novel was at times harrowing and heartbreaking, and at other times joyful and hopeful. I enjoyed seeing Eleanor’s passion for archival work, and Ruby’s dreams of becoming an optometrist; I love reading about brilliant women, and the difficult choices they have to make.
Something I love about Johnson is that she based characters in her book on real people. It makes them so vibrant and it is so easy to empathize with and cheer for them. She addresses difficult topic realistically, but with compassion.
I listened to this on audiobook, and really loved the narration by Ariel Blake and Nicole Lewis. Plus, the author read an author’s note at the end which is worth a listen.
Graphic: Racism, Miscarriage, Classism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, and Infertility
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
Minor: Misogyny