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cass_lit's review against another edition
3.5
- Each character was so flushed out despite only having a short story to themselves
- It’s a collection of stories about almost-strangers whose lives are connected by their living location
What kept me from loving it:
- Some of the main characters were very unlikable. I’m just not a huge fan of an unlikeable narrator.
- Many of the MCs used racist (often against Chinese side characters), ableist, and fatphobic language
Graphic: Child death and Racism
Moderate: Fatphobia and Racial slurs
Minor: Ableism
possumpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Child death
choicepotatoes_old's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The characters are deliciously complex.
Each story feels whole.
---
5 - I would absolutely
Graphic: Child death, Fatphobia, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent
grapie_deltaco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
We receive glimpses into the lives of various tenants in a single apartment building in New York. All struggling to make ends meet. All aimless trying to make things work. All deeply flawed and stuck.
I think the beauty of the writing in this book, though, comes from Fofana’s decision to write each story phonetically on top of the deeply and jarringly distinct voices that vary from story to story. The words flow so naturally it reads like a transcript of events rather than a fictional story.
And the story <i>lite feet</i> simply broke me.
There’s a deeply uncomfortable chapter featuring a tenant with disgusting treatment toward a Chinese man who owns a local restaurant that I’m split on. Although it’s a raw look into an ignorant mind, the story would function the exact same without the use of dated and offensive terminology.
CW: sexual harassment, brief reference to child molestation and murder, addiction and heavy implications/mentions of substance abuse, brief reference to stalking and pedophilia, racism (including dated & offensive terms referring to Chinese and Roma people), brief use of ableist slur, brief reference to domestic abuse, child death, death of loved ones, grief
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
onceandfuturereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death
cheyrohm's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Violence, and Grief
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What really struck me was the way the author vividly brought each of his characters to life. His use of subtly different formats and styles in his writing, as well as the varying ways he used and blended AAVE and standard English meant that each character had a unique distinctive voice. To me these were real people and I was fully invested in their stories, wanting the best for them as they hustled to find the rent money, get ahead, or bring a little joy into their life.
It’s exploration of themes like race, class, gentrification, education, individual choice, and community is nuanced. It’s a book that highlights issues but doesn’t offer easy answers. Rather it prompts thought and reflection on the part of the reader.
I definitely enjoyed my time with this book and will be on the look out for future work by this author.
Graphic: Child death and Drug use
Moderate: Fatphobia and Racism
deedireads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I’m so glad I pulled this to the top of my TBR pile; this is character-driven short story writing at its best. Every character was just so deeply human, with such distinctive, strong voices. This paired really well with the full cast of audiobook narrators, who quite literally bring the collection to life. “Little Feet,” which takes the form of a letter penned by a 12-year-old boy to his friend’s mother, was possibly my favorite. (Oof, that one hurt.)
This is a collection that goes deeper than the primary themes of class, race, gentrification, and the cyclical trap of financial struggle. It’s about people, and choices, and survival, and humanity, and community.
What an impressive debut. No skips.
Graphic: Child death and Drug use
bookdragon217's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Stories From the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana is my sleeper hit of 2022. I tried to take my time with this short story collection but after reading the intro I was hooked. The way these stories were neatly interconnected was perfection.
Stories set in NYC always warm my heart. This collection takes place in Harlem in Banneker Terrace, a low income building. Tenants are facing eviction due to rapid gentrification. The building is a community within itself and everyone knows each other. Each story gives you a glimpse into the lives of the people that make up this neighborhood and the ways they choose to thrive and survive. I loved that Fofana uses AAVE to give each character a unique and authentic Harlem voice. He introduces you to an unforgettable cast of Black characters with stories and experiences that oftentimes go unnoticed or ignored. Their full humanity is sprawled out on the pages.
This collection was powerful in the ways it showed the real people that are displaced when gentrification violently disrupts the lives of those already struggling to survive. There is a recurring theme of choices, the ones people choose or not choose to make, the unpopular and dangerous ones that are made and the ones that are almost forced upon some because of poverty and circumstance. He explores the ways that Black people construct their identities and what constitutes home. Fofana also shows how a failing, racist education system hurts Black kids. The book shows the ways you cling to family, community and hope when the world is violently trying to get rid of you and constantly telling you that you don't belong. "Lite Feet" was my favorite story tore my heart into pieces but honestly every single essay hit the mark for me.
This debut was stellar and I highly suggest you add this one to your personal libraries. I am immediately adding Fofana to my auto-buy list. He knocked this one out of the park.
Minor: Child death and Racism
_sam_m's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Child death, Death, Drug use, and Violence