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katkiyoko's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
essjay's review against another edition
4.75
I genuinely don't even know what to say about this except that I loved it so much.
rachelclarareed's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
sabotaje's review
3.0
I put the book down for a few weeks and then slowly started reading it again. It wasn't an easy read, but I appreciated the stories, the imaginary, reflections on grief, injustice, and the hope that can remain despite adversities. Perhaps I was hoping or expecting more in terms of story development, an interesting breakthrough, or a change of pace. But this is not that sort of book. It is one that immerses the reader in a reality that is rarely represented in fiction, which I appreciated. Yet I admit it was difficult to get back to. I am glad I read it.
analyticalchaos's review
4.0
In Grievers, we follow a young twenty-something named Dune. Her mother is patient zero of a mysterious virus infecting Detroit. There's a catch: the virus seems only to be infecting those of African descent and no one else.
As the book progresses, Dune watches everyone die around her and witnesses the city she loves turn into ruin. The people infected with this virus don't die immediately, rather, they enter a fugue state similar to shock. This state is similar to those recovering from intense loss; they are shrouded in grief.
Truthfully, naming the virus "H-8" and having it infect only those of African descent is a little on the nose. However, Brown manages to balance this with great atmospheric writing and character development. It's a testament to the intergenerational trauma experienced by marginalized people. The virus serves as a great metaphor for trauma response and it reminds me of the similar themes from the Afro-futurism novel [b:The Deep|42201962|The Deep|Rivers Solomon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549411869l/42201962._SY75_.jpg|64281827] by River Solomon.
What I truly liked about this book was the management of Dune's internal dialogue. Seeing how she reacts to all this loss and internalizes helps me draw parallels to others who have experienced similar things. I was really sad throughout reading this book. I had to put it down a couple of times, so if you're sensitive to death and loss, I would tread with caution.
As the book progresses, Dune watches everyone die around her and witnesses the city she loves turn into ruin. The people infected with this virus don't die immediately, rather, they enter a fugue state similar to shock. This state is similar to those recovering from intense loss; they are shrouded in grief.
Truthfully, naming the virus "H-8" and having it infect only those of African descent is a little on the nose. However, Brown manages to balance this with great atmospheric writing and character development. It's a testament to the intergenerational trauma experienced by marginalized people. The virus serves as a great metaphor for trauma response and it reminds me of the similar themes from the Afro-futurism novel [b:The Deep|42201962|The Deep|Rivers Solomon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549411869l/42201962._SY75_.jpg|64281827] by River Solomon.
What I truly liked about this book was the management of Dune's internal dialogue. Seeing how she reacts to all this loss and internalizes helps me draw parallels to others who have experienced similar things. I was really sad throughout reading this book. I had to put it down a couple of times, so if you're sensitive to death and loss, I would tread with caution.
possumbinight's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
briarwren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
lsparrow's review
5.0
Love this book! A book for our times but also a song for the past and a call to the future. I love the story and the character and the city. How do we respond to grief, injustice, fear. How do we hold on to our stories.