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thecriticalreader's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Ahhh, I’m so disappointed! Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks was one of my most anticipated early 2024 releases. Reparations for slavery in the United States is a complex and fascinating topic, one that would benefit enormously from exploration through literary fiction. When people discuss reparations, they usually do so by quoting numbers, introducing hypotheticals, and arguing with ideology. I hoped that Acts of Forgiveness would add a more personal, human dimension to the topic of reparations, and in doing so shine light on the many nuances and complexities that come with implementing a national reparations act. And, to her credit, Maura Cheeks does try; the book earnestly imagines the hope, cynicism, anger, and complications a national reparations act would engender through the eyes of the Revels, an African American family desperately clinging to their status within the upper-middle class. Unfortunately, Cheeks’s writing keeps the reader at an arm’s length emotionally from her characters. Perhaps because of her background in journalism, she relies too heavily on telling instead of showing. As such, I spent the book feeling emotionally detached from its plot and characters.
Furthermore, Acts of Forgiveness attempts to juggle too many plot points, characters, and themes. The distance from the characters combined with the ever-expanding number of narrative threads created a disorienting and frustrating reading experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Medical content and Classism
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Abandonment, Slavery, and Rape
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