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sovteck's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
A sad, meandering family saga I read for a book club. I felt it was disjointed and the characterisation was thin, but the sense of place and the poetic turns of phrase were lovely.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Deportation
bethancy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: War, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Deportation
Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, Alcoholism, and Cancer
Minor: Sexual assault
lidia7's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, War, Cancer, Death, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Racism, Physical abuse, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexism, Child abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Slavery, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Incest, Gore, and Forced institutionalization
bruhnette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction and Domestic abuse
kelseystoner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, War, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Deportation, Death of parent, Death, Colonisation, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Racism, Sexual assault, Murder, Incest, Grief, Rape, Sexual violence, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
tiche22h's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Addiction, Sexual assault, Drug use, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Cancer
rhi_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Deportation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death, Confinement, War, Xenophobia, Racism, and Mental illness
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Pedophilia, and Trafficking
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
- 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
2.25
I do really like the topics Garcia wanted to tackle, the relationships between women and cycles of abuse and I completely agree with the author that there is no “one” immigrant story in her short interview with Roxane Gay but I think she really needs to re-examine how she writes non white characters and characters her Mexican and Cuban family don’t fit into since those characters suffered the most. I do really like that she wrote about racism and classism in Mexico and the resentments between different Latino groups even if again that sometimes felt clunky. I especially loved the Cuban families divided less by borders and more by interpersonal issues and with very different and strong political opinions.
Graphic: Classism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, War, Chronic illness, Grief, Death, Deportation, Self harm, Child abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Cancer, Misogyny, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
metamorfosa's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Racism
saboyer's review against another edition
- 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
And the empathetic, powerful, nuanced and yet so simplistic look at refugees.
“That there are no real rules that govern why some are born in turmoil and others never know a single day in which the next seems an ill-considered bet. It’s all lottery, Ana, all chance. It’s the flick of a coin, and we are born.”
What a sad, beautiful book. And how sad we won’t do better for the people around us.
And speaking of salt: I can’t believe a book like American Dirt is more popular than something as beautiful as this.
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence