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emka918's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jake_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
4.25
This is the second Carpentier I've read, and like the other, Explosions in a Cathedral, the themes are heavy and should give the novel gravitas, but much of the plot's weight is obscured beneath a baroque prose style interested in tangents and lists of specific details. This is a prose style I like, but for many this novel could be underwhelming given the premise, a very Latin American magical realist telling of the Haitian Revolution.
lylawells's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Read for a class on the Haitian Revolution
This book genuinely left me speechless. Medina's translation is fantastic, but this is a challenging read nonetheless. Ti Noel is not likable, which is of course the point, but it makes the narrative significantly harder to stomach. A fascinating look at revolutions and perhaps, revolutions that may not have really "happened." After finishing this book I found myself drawing many parallels between it and The Hunger Games, which is silly, but seriously. Go read this book and then watch Mockingjay 1 and 2. I think Collins may have been a bit inspired! Anyway. Short and beautiful, but an insanely challenging read.
Trigger Warning: Graphic Sexual Assault, among other things
This book genuinely left me speechless. Medina's translation is fantastic, but this is a challenging read nonetheless. Ti Noel is not likable, which is of course the point, but it makes the narrative significantly harder to stomach. A fascinating look at revolutions and perhaps, revolutions that may not have really "happened." After finishing this book I found myself drawing many parallels between it and The Hunger Games, which is silly, but seriously. Go read this book and then watch Mockingjay 1 and 2. I think Collins may have been a bit inspired! Anyway. Short and beautiful, but an insanely challenging read.
Trigger Warning: Graphic Sexual Assault, among other things
Graphic: Sexual assault
jrt_lit's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
hcube3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
emilyjulia's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
pure shit. had to read it for uni and it sucks.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
rocilanda's review against another edition
4.0
The beauty of it relies in the crude accuracy of it. Got goosebumps at the end.
hannicogood's review against another edition
2.0
To me, this book glossed over important events without enough detail. It could have been more interesting if it were longer.