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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
This book is both brilliant and truly pleasurable to read. I love the way Evaristo brings twelve different characters so beautifully to life in these interconnected stories, spanning years and families and illustrating the ways in which people lean on and love each other, though she never shies away from the complexities of families and friendships. Her language is a hybrid between poetry and prose, and I found it a joy to just fall into the rhythm of it all; I couldn't put it down, and I wept at the ending.
It took me a while to get through this audiobook since I started it right before an international move during the Christmas season (never again!). I love me a juicy family saga, especially one being narrated with the perceptive social commentary of the author. Her Booker Prize is well deserved!
“... ageing is nothing to be ashamed of
especially when the entire human race is in it together”
"Dominique guessed her own sexual preferences from puberty, wisely kept them to herself, unsure how her friends or family would react, not wanting to be a social outcast
she tried boys a couple of times
they enjoyed it
she endured it"
especially when the entire human race is in it together”
"Dominique guessed her own sexual preferences from puberty, wisely kept them to herself, unsure how her friends or family would react, not wanting to be a social outcast
she tried boys a couple of times
they enjoyed it
she endured it"
“... ageing is nothing to be ashamed of
especially when the entire human race is in it together”
"Dominique guessed her own sexual preferences from puberty, wisely kept them to herself, unsure how her friends or family would react, not wanting to be a social outcast
she tried boys a couple of times
they enjoyed it
she endured it"
especially when the entire human race is in it together”
"Dominique guessed her own sexual preferences from puberty, wisely kept them to herself, unsure how her friends or family would react, not wanting to be a social outcast
she tried boys a couple of times
they enjoyed it
she endured it"
From the first sentence, I could tell this book was going to be a remarkable one. It features racism, feminism, the dynamics between generations...
The narrative is great and unique and captivating. Sometimes it reads like a a beautiful poem. But it's perfect all the while.
It made me sad yet hopeful, made me feel warm and somehow home. I feel as though these characters are my friends, and I will miss them very much.
It's an extremely important book and I can't quite put into words how beautiful and unforgettable it is. I wish everyone would read it.
The narrative is great and unique and captivating. Sometimes it reads like a a beautiful poem. But it's perfect all the while.
It made me sad yet hopeful, made me feel warm and somehow home. I feel as though these characters are my friends, and I will miss them very much.
It's an extremely important book and I can't quite put into words how beautiful and unforgettable it is. I wish everyone would read it.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kirja kertoo värillisten lontoolaisten vähemmistöjen elämästä värikkäästi ja koskettavasti. Kirjassa seurataan montaa eri henkilöä, joiden elämänkohtalot risteävät joskus yllättävälläkin tavalla. Äitejä ja tyttäriä, ystäviä ja rakastajia, opettajia ja oppilaita kohdataan, näkökulma vaihtuu toisesta toiseen.
Seksuaalinen vapautuminen, sukupuolien tasa-arvoistuminen, sukupuoliroolien murros yhteiskunnassa näkyvät kaikki kirjassa iloisessa sekamelskassa. Feminismin vanhat parrat kohtaavat uudet intersektionalistit ja konflikteilta ei vältytä sukupolvien välillä.
Isoimmat konfliktit käydään kuitenkin vapauttaan hamuavien naisten ja heitä kontrolloivien miesten välillä. Niin paljon ja monenlaista kärsimystä aiheutetaan ihan vain siksi että voidaan tai että halutaan pysyä niskan päällä. Kirjan teemana on kuitenkin selviytyminen ja ilon ja oman päämäärän löytäminen kaikesta huolimatta.
Upea kirja, tosin aika ajoin rankka. Poikkeuksellisesti annan kirjalle sisältövaroituksen teini-ikäisen raiskauskohtauksesta.
Seksuaalinen vapautuminen, sukupuolien tasa-arvoistuminen, sukupuoliroolien murros yhteiskunnassa näkyvät kaikki kirjassa iloisessa sekamelskassa. Feminismin vanhat parrat kohtaavat uudet intersektionalistit ja konflikteilta ei vältytä sukupolvien välillä.
Isoimmat konfliktit käydään kuitenkin vapauttaan hamuavien naisten ja heitä kontrolloivien miesten välillä. Niin paljon ja monenlaista kärsimystä aiheutetaan ihan vain siksi että voidaan tai että halutaan pysyä niskan päällä. Kirjan teemana on kuitenkin selviytyminen ja ilon ja oman päämäärän löytäminen kaikesta huolimatta.
Upea kirja, tosin aika ajoin rankka. Poikkeuksellisesti annan kirjalle sisältövaroituksen teini-ikäisen raiskauskohtauksesta.
I've had a lot of five star reviews lately but here's one more.
I really enjoyed this audiobook and all the character dynamics and relationships set up within this book.
There were times I slightly forgot who was who, but that was mostly in later chapters where some of the characters were more historically based, and I think some of that comes from listening (I am much better at names when I have seen them).
I know this book plays with form in how it is written, but the audiobook comes highly recommended. I could only listen at 1.1x due to some combination of initial speed, British accent, and an impressive amount of detail that I didn't want to miss.
I am not sure who my favorite character was (will think on it and report back if I come up with a decisive one -- Amma and Yazz's relationship is the one that sticks out to me at first) but I loved the intertwining stories and the unexpectedly sweet resolution.
This is what I wanted Homegoing to be. But unlike Homegoing, this exceeded my expectations and did not disappoint.
The only part where I was like "okay, get on with it already" was the first section in The After-party about Roland. No hate on Roland, but his character was not one I particularly cared about in that amount of detail so that section wasn't compelling for me.
Quick update after going through and highlighting passages I had bookmarked in the audio: the audio for this is beyond stellar. It adds a depth that I think (looking at the text) is definitely additive. So just in case it wasn't clear above, audio is the way to go for this one.
--
ATY 2022: #28 - A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards (The Booker Prize)
Popsugar 2022: #3 - A book about, or set in, a nonpatriarchal society
(I am playing fast and loose with the strictness of Popsugar categories because I don't like how narrow they seem to be this year -- I am defining the book itself as a nonpatriarchal society because it focuses on (all different sorts of) women and women's relationships and that feels within the spirit of the category to me.)
I really enjoyed this audiobook and all the character dynamics and relationships set up within this book.
There were times I slightly forgot who was who, but that was mostly in later chapters where some of the characters were more historically based, and I think some of that comes from listening (I am much better at names when I have seen them).
I know this book plays with form in how it is written, but the audiobook comes highly recommended. I could only listen at 1.1x due to some combination of initial speed, British accent, and an impressive amount of detail that I didn't want to miss.
I am not sure who my favorite character was (will think on it and report back if I come up with a decisive one -- Amma and Yazz's relationship is the one that sticks out to me at first) but I loved the intertwining stories and the unexpectedly sweet resolution.
This is what I wanted Homegoing to be. But unlike Homegoing, this exceeded my expectations and did not disappoint.
The only part where I was like "okay, get on with it already" was the first section in The After-party about Roland. No hate on Roland, but his character was not one I particularly cared about in that amount of detail so that section wasn't compelling for me.
Quick update after going through and highlighting passages I had bookmarked in the audio: the audio for this is beyond stellar. It adds a depth that I think (looking at the text) is definitely additive. So just in case it wasn't clear above, audio is the way to go for this one.
--
ATY 2022: #28 - A book that won an award from Powell's list of book awards (The Booker Prize)
Popsugar 2022: #3 - A book about, or set in, a nonpatriarchal society
(I am playing fast and loose with the strictness of Popsugar categories because I don't like how narrow they seem to be this year -- I am defining the book itself as a nonpatriarchal society because it focuses on (all different sorts of) women and women's relationships and that feels within the spirit of the category to me.)
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The second act was probably the only act I thoroughly enjoyed
The book is good, but it has a lot of characters and I really couldn't remember all of them. A lot of stories that were interconnected but I didn't match it.
And, since it has so many characters, it has also a lot of stories. Some are good, some aren't.
It's not an easy book, read with a notebook near to you.
And, since it has so many characters, it has also a lot of stories. Some are good, some aren't.
It's not an easy book, read with a notebook near to you.