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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ending was so heartwarming and comforting
This was Reese Witherspooon's #hellosunshine Book Club pick for January 2020, and as always she has chosen an absolutely outstanding book.
The story starts with a black woman who, whilst babysitting for a white family, encounters some racial tension, and continues with an exploration of both families and how their lives intertwine and shape each of them. The contrasts of perspective of each character are wonderfully woven together and inspire much thought about the world we live in and how our own subconscious values, experiences and awareness play out in real life scenarios.
All of the characters were brilliantly shaped and I felt truly engaged in their experiences, but for me the stand out character in the book was the child Briar; I found myself laughing out loud frequently at her nuances and foibles and felt the author did a spectacular job of not only bringing her to life but making me fall in love with her.
There are many sociological and psychological points within the book and Kiley Reid has a true talent for dissecting the human psyche. I found myself questioning my own values and experiences throughout, and I personally believe that a book that can achieve this deserves 5 stars and a place in history.
The only critisicm I have of the book is that there were some Americanisms that I didn't understand (Bumbo? Malecs?) but this is as much my own ignorance of our neighbours across the pond as anything else.
From reading other reviews and participating in discussions about the book, I can see that there are some insecurities about how the book ended, which I would only agree with to a small degree. I was truly awed by the whole thing and finished it in just two days! I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who shows the slightest interest in the written word.
The story starts with a black woman who, whilst babysitting for a white family, encounters some racial tension, and continues with an exploration of both families and how their lives intertwine and shape each of them. The contrasts of perspective of each character are wonderfully woven together and inspire much thought about the world we live in and how our own subconscious values, experiences and awareness play out in real life scenarios.
All of the characters were brilliantly shaped and I felt truly engaged in their experiences, but for me the stand out character in the book was the child Briar; I found myself laughing out loud frequently at her nuances and foibles and felt the author did a spectacular job of not only bringing her to life but making me fall in love with her.
There are many sociological and psychological points within the book and Kiley Reid has a true talent for dissecting the human psyche. I found myself questioning my own values and experiences throughout, and I personally believe that a book that can achieve this deserves 5 stars and a place in history.
The only critisicm I have of the book is that there were some Americanisms that I didn't understand (Bumbo? Malecs?) but this is as much my own ignorance of our neighbours across the pond as anything else.
From reading other reviews and participating in discussions about the book, I can see that there are some insecurities about how the book ended, which I would only agree with to a small degree. I was truly awed by the whole thing and finished it in just two days! I will wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who shows the slightest interest in the written word.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Light and yet not
Loved the readability and the way I got so attached to the main character.... social commentary drawn with a light hand and in a novel way. Brava.
Loved the readability and the way I got so attached to the main character.... social commentary drawn with a light hand and in a novel way. Brava.
I really enjoyed this. I found it a little slow going in the middle, and at a certain point I was grumbling that it was a short story that had gotten too bloated, but by the end I was sold. Basically about relationships between and among two white and one young black woman; and it delves into how these white people contort themselves in response to their own internalized racism. That's a quick synopsis, and honestly not a ton happens here. One incident at the start sort of ripples out through the book. I felt defensive about 2/3 of the way through; because it seemed like the white female character had been totally demonized via her privilege, white guilt/white saviour syndrome, and her own classism and racism....but then the other characters seemed to become more nuanced in a way. I think other people disliked the end, and I can see that but it basically worked for me. Also it's good that it made me uncomfortable as a middle class white woman. I finished it last week and am still thinking about parts of it.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes