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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
This is such a lovely and unique novel-in-verse. I've read a number of books in this format over the last few years, but this one did genuinely feel like it was doing something new and interesting with its verse. McBride is a beautiful writer, and some of the images she was able to conjure with language were so striking and moving that they stopped me in my tracks. The story is rather simple, but it delves into so many different things — how we reconcile with a painful past, how art can help us move forward, and the importance of honoring cultural traditions and our ancestors. Through Moth and Sani, McBridge explores the myths and legends of Hoodoo, which draws its spiritual practices from enslaved people in the American South and has been carried through to Moth's generation via her grandfather, and the Navajo, which is where Sani's family has roots.
The book is quite simple in its concept, in that the bulk of it is Moth and Sani falling for one another while embarking on a cross-country road trip to the Navajo reservation to see his estranged father, but the late-in-the-game twist was not something I saw coming, and it lent a whole new perspective on the book, and made its messages feel all the more relevant. This is a book that would definitely merit re-reading and revisiting to put the pieces together with the knowledge of the eventual outcome/picture.
This book came onto my radar because of all the great accolades it has received so far (finalist for the National Book Award and the Morris Debut Award) and it certainly deserves them. I'd love to read more poetry and even someday prose from this author, and will be on the lookout for her next book.
The book is quite simple in its concept, in that the bulk of it is Moth and Sani falling for one another while embarking on a cross-country road trip to the Navajo reservation to see his estranged father, but the late-in-the-game twist
Spoiler
that Moth did not survive the crash that killed her family and has been existing as a ghost ever sinceThis book came onto my radar because of all the great accolades it has received so far (finalist for the National Book Award and the Morris Debut Award) and it certainly deserves them. I'd love to read more poetry and even someday prose from this author, and will be on the lookout for her next book.
emotional
sad
fast-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
A really quick read. Loved that it was told in verse—it really added to the storytelling. I did not see the ending coming
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
I normally don't care for books written in verse but this was beautiful and so raw. I couldn't put it down.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes