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hannah_lou'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
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism
dianakamau'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
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and War
foxo_cube'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? Yes
4.75
I will start of by saying I know very little about the Nigerian civil war - this was my first time reading about it at all, but I am grateful that the author included a list of books she used as reference material because I am interested in reading non-fiction on the topic now.
The characters within this were, I think, brilliantly crafted. They were introduced, typically, with a basic set of traits, but develop into people who feel real: people with idiosyncracies, and prejudices they trip themselves up on, and fallibility. There are no wholly good or bad people, and the feelings characters have towards each other are often complex.
The interaction between small-scale, interpersonal drama and traumas and the big-scale social tensions is very well-balanced, I felt, and the responses to the horrors of the war (and pre-war massacres) shown by the characters feel thought-out.
The ending felt almost anti-climactic, I will say, but then I suppose that's pretty realistic too, isn't it?
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Genocide, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
darcyparcy'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and War
kellyofcali'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
saravsw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Another problem I have, which is a personal thing and may not bother other readers, is the amount of sex. I have no problem reading about sex but if that is the only way that couples interact in the novel then I have a problem because then why should I care if
Graphic: Genocide and Rape
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
Way too much sexual content for me, too many POVs… and generally, I’m just bored. Life’s too short.
Graphic: Racism and Sexual content
rchristine11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Excrement, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death and Abortion
plitt1'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, and War
kaabtik'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
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent