Reviews

Long Division by Kiese Laymon

kmariek's review against another edition

In case you're not holding a copy, the book is structured with one story on each side, with the side you're not reading existing as a book in the other. Laymon doesn't explicitly state when to switch, but since I was doubling up on formats (😎 weird brag), hearing the audiobook switch helped me watch for times it made sense to switch while reading the physical one. There's time travel, the two storylines, a school competition where students have to use a difficult word meaningfully, and such entertaining writing for the character City's answers that I probably could have read a separate book of just those. I can not claim to have completely followed what was going on with the time travel or the relation between the two stories at all times, but thought both elements added new angles to what the main characters are going through.

emilytheknurd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really want to get this book because I know it would be amazing but after one read, I don’t. I know it’ll take me more than one read to understand and personally that’s not for me since there are too many questions left unanswered. For such a complex story line it does not have a clear ending.

ukponge's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Racism

ivanssister's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• 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

meg510's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• 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

5.0

sav24's review

adventurous emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

mamanewtnewt's review against another edition

Just don’t like it

laila4343's review

4.0

So trippy! But unexpectedly moving- I cried! This is the kind of book that makes me feel dumb, but I was totally absorbed. I need to think about it some more and I can't wait to talk about it with my book group.

suzi4213's review

2.0

I wanted to like this book.

The concept is interesting, but I feel like there was a failure in the execution.

I also don't really like the stream of consciousness style of writing. I didn't like it in Ellison's Invisible Man, I don't like it here.

dobsonfly314's review

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• 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

3.0