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thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up on a whim at work because I wanted to try reading something outside of my usual genre (ie. YA/graphic novels/magical) and I ended up really liking it! Maybe it's because I went in with almost no expectations but regardless I found this book fascinating.
It starts off as a slave narrative but then it pivots both far away from that and also not far away from it at all. One of my favourite quotes from the book is: "His harm, I thought, was in not understanding that he still had the ability to cause it" (p. 406) because it so perfectly sums up people's lack of understanding around privilege; that people's actions can still be harmful even if they don't intend them to be.
It's also a book about science and discovery and drawing and how it feels to not be able to take credit for any of the work that you do. Is satisfaction in your own work enough? Does external glory matter? "Did it matter? I do not know if it mattered. I understood only that I would have to make peace with the loss" (p. 385)
Would highly recommend this book!!
ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.
It starts off as a slave narrative but then it pivots both far away from that and also not far away from it at all. One of my favourite quotes from the book is: "His harm, I thought, was in not understanding that he still had the ability to cause it" (p. 406) because it so perfectly sums up people's lack of understanding around privilege; that people's actions can still be harmful even if they don't intend them to be.
It's also a book about science and discovery and drawing and how it feels to not be able to take credit for any of the work that you do. Is satisfaction in your own work enough? Does external glory matter? "Did it matter? I do not know if it mattered. I understood only that I would have to make peace with the loss" (p. 385)
Would highly recommend this book!!
ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.
tam_winterfish's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well written but there were lots of coincidences and I have no idea if the ending was supposed to mean something…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
ajudeholbert87's review against another edition
3.0
Certainly an interesting topic to write about, as you don’t come across novels about young, enslaved, black boys becoming marine artists often (if ever). However, the ending of this book left me with so many unanswered questions. Does “Wash” go back to Barbados with Titch? Does Ms. Goff go with them? What’s most upsetting is that Wash is essentially exploring the world as a pseudo free man, while searching for a man that abandoned him. Does that make him free? Not really. It makes him an abandoned slave, searching the world for his temporary master, to come to find that Titch had not been worried about him, not dreaming about him, and already replaced him. I wished that Wash would have found his personal independence and built a true life for himself, rather than spending years for a man that wasn’t concerned about him. I felt that the book went on and on in some areas but fell short and abruptly at the end when Wash finally finds Titch in Morocco.
mylxa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Death, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Violence
irenekelly's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
savaging's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful book, a Victorian-style adventure-science romp that is also a soulful exploration of race and slavery.
The only thing that keeps me from an emphatic 5 stars is my frustration over how the women characters (few in quantity but exceptional in quality) are always sacrificing themselves for the protagonist. Doesn't pass the Bechdel test. But DOES have a really great octopus.
The only thing that keeps me from an emphatic 5 stars is my frustration over how the women characters (few in quantity but exceptional in quality) are always sacrificing themselves for the protagonist. Doesn't pass the Bechdel test. But DOES have a really great octopus.
en_en_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
2.75
camille_3012's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-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
3.5
kellyculpeppertowe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dillybean's review against another edition
4.0
Thought it would have more adventure but still really loved it! The writing and the character of Wash kept me going. Ended up really enjoying his personal journey he went on