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sakisreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
I had higher expectations for this collection of short stories unfortunately 😢 It wasn’t quite as coherent or gripping as I would have liked it to be!
In saying that, I love the complicated and human relationship between Trelawny and Delano. Families, eh 🤷🏻♀️
3 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨ Content warnings below!
In saying that, I love the complicated and human relationship between Trelawny and Delano. Families, eh 🤷🏻♀️
3 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨ Content warnings below!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Colonisation
nicolaparty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Racism, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, and Animal cruelty
internationalreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Abandonment, Addiction, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, Racism, Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
deedireads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
If I Survive You is a strong, compelling collection of connected stories about a family of Jamaican men living in Miami. I enjoyed it quite a lot.
For you if: You like very connected short stories that could almost be called a novel.
FULL REVIEW:
If I Survive You is a buzzy debut story collection that got longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction. I’m writing this before the finalists are announced, but I gotta say, it feels like a strong contender.
This set of linked stories gives us a glimpse into the lives of the men of one Jamaican family living in Miami, particularly the younger son, Trelawny. He’s the protagonist of most of the stories, although we also get to hear from his father, his brother, and even a cousin. Trelawny is the only one who was born in the US and struggles with feeling like an outsider in every aspect of his life, including his family; the opening story, “In Flux,” sets this stage perfectly.
I do love linked stories, and these are very linked. In fact, seeing as they got away with calling How High We Go in the Dark and Disappearing Earth novels, I think this one could have snuck over that border, too. We get the stories near-linearly, following Trelawny and his family from his childhood, through Hurricane Andrew, into the Great Recession, and beyond. We come to know them, feel for them, understand their shortcomings, and hope for their futures. (In fact, the amount of time we spend with the same few characters could also give those who feel like they “always want more” from short stories the satisfaction they’re looking for.)
This is such a strong debut collection; it’s deeply heartfelt and compelling, looking at all the in-between places of race and heritage and belonging and family and survival. It’s a love letter to Jamaican families and immigrants living in Miami, and it speaks to our current moment and the last few decades alike.
TL;DR REVIEW:
If I Survive You is a strong, compelling collection of connected stories about a family of Jamaican men living in Miami. I enjoyed it quite a lot.
For you if: You like very connected short stories that could almost be called a novel.
FULL REVIEW:
If I Survive You is a buzzy debut story collection that got longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction. I’m writing this before the finalists are announced, but I gotta say, it feels like a strong contender.
This set of linked stories gives us a glimpse into the lives of the men of one Jamaican family living in Miami, particularly the younger son, Trelawny. He’s the protagonist of most of the stories, although we also get to hear from his father, his brother, and even a cousin. Trelawny is the only one who was born in the US and struggles with feeling like an outsider in every aspect of his life, including his family; the opening story, “In Flux,” sets this stage perfectly.
I do love linked stories, and these are very linked. In fact, seeing as they got away with calling How High We Go in the Dark and Disappearing Earth novels, I think this one could have snuck over that border, too. We get the stories near-linearly, following Trelawny and his family from his childhood, through Hurricane Andrew, into the Great Recession, and beyond. We come to know them, feel for them, understand their shortcomings, and hope for their futures. (In fact, the amount of time we spend with the same few characters could also give those who feel like they “always want more” from short stories the satisfaction they’re looking for.)
This is such a strong debut collection; it’s deeply heartfelt and compelling, looking at all the in-between places of race and heritage and belonging and family and survival. It’s a love letter to Jamaican families and immigrants living in Miami, and it speaks to our current moment and the last few decades alike.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
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