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caseythereader's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Drug use, Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Rape, and Trafficking
Moderate: Homophobia and Blood
bookishandbougee's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Phew. This book. Wrote a review here: https://www.bookishandbougee.com/blog/littlerotreview
But in short, I was so excited to get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) (thanks Riverhead!) of their latest novel Little Rot and to dive in. No idea of the plot, just vibes and an abiding admiration for this free ass spirit artist having a human experience.
But in short, I was so excited to get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) (thanks Riverhead!) of their latest novel Little Rot and to dive in. No idea of the plot, just vibes and an abiding admiration for this free ass spirit artist having a human experience.
I didn’t enjoy this book.
As I mentioned, I went into this story with no clue. I sincerely wish I had had a content warning about sexual violence in the book as it was too much.
I left the novel feeling dirty and questioning why I felt compelled to finish it. I don’t believe that characters in a novel need to bestow moral lessons or even that everything I read needs a happy ending, but this felt like being shown the ugliness of the world for the sake of it and the plot, thin as it was, didn’t justify the actions.
I didn’t think the story had anything interesting to say about people repressing their sexuality or religious hypocrites or gender roles or sex or so many topics that a skilled writer like Emezi is capable of in artful ways and that’s a shame.
I didn’t think the story had anything interesting to say about people repressing their sexuality or religious hypocrites or gender roles or sex or so many topics that a skilled writer like Emezi is capable of in artful ways and that’s a shame.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Homophobia
kmagers's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
and9591's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, and Toxic friendship
deereadstoo's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Wow. I'm not sure what to say other than wow. I think Akwaeke's special weapon might be crafting full-bodied characters. There's no way you leave their books without your brain split amongst the good, bad, and the ugly of any character they bring to life. That's especially evident in Little Rot.
To be frank, the plot isn't even what's important here. The true meat of this novel is the characters, how their lives interwine, and what that means for their futures. Emezi carefully crafts these characters by starting us off with something as innocent as a break-up and--ironically enough--a sex party and plunging us deep into the belly of the beast with each action that unfolds the true horrors that lay within. A book always sticks with me more when I can go back and fully understand the meaning behind the title and the epigraph. Going back to page 0 after I finished and seeing the quote from Toni Morrison in the epigraph, "I'm just trying to look at something without blinking to see what it is like, or it could have been like, and how that had something to do with the way we live now," packed a different punch. Seeing people for who they are in their fullness might be your salvation or destruction.
I say all this to say that Little Rot was a true character study and a testament to humanity and the truth. How it can only be hidden for so long until it is brought to light for all to reckon with. You peel back layers upon layers of people you've known your whole life only to realize you haven't even scratched the surface. Their core holds secrets they'll never tell and pain that's etched into their bones. So for those that love character-driven books, this might just be your favorite piece of rotten fruit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, and Rape
jukietoss's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Akwaeke Emezi is one of my favorite authors, and they only reinforced that with Little Rot. I love the way Emezi plays with genre, bending the boundaries and carving profound stories that defy strict categorization. Taking place over one consequential weekend, we are dropped into the characters' lives as observers of long-lasting relationships whose dynamics are all on the brink of major changes. I really enjoyed seeing the characters learn one another anew as circumstances shifted and events exposed new aspects of each's personality. Emezi so thoughtfully touched on both the depth of longterm friendships and that which remains invisible to them until/unless circumstances demand.
It's a story about what's hidden from the light, about the walls we put up and who and where and when we let people behind those walls. It shows the necessity of connection but also the limits to how vulnerable any one person is willing to be. Each character thinks they understand their own motivations and boundaries, but over the course of the book those are tested. They also think they understand the people by whom they're surrounded, but there are similarly limitations there, too. Despite their interdependence, this novel looks at deep loneliness. It is wrenching, raw, gorgeously written, and entirely absorbing.
It's a story about what's hidden from the light, about the walls we put up and who and where and when we let people behind those walls. It shows the necessity of connection but also the limits to how vulnerable any one person is willing to be. Each character thinks they understand their own motivations and boundaries, but over the course of the book those are tested. They also think they understand the people by whom they're surrounded, but there are similarly limitations there, too. Despite their interdependence, this novel looks at deep loneliness. It is wrenching, raw, gorgeously written, and entirely absorbing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Murder
chelsiaann's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
This is exceptionally well written but damn there is a lot of sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
sydnec's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Like all of Emezi's books, you will get caught up in the lush and elaborate lives of these characters. Little Rot is more sexual and violent and ultimately sad, I think (even as devastating as Vivek Oji is). Heed the trigger warnings and be prepared.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse
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