Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

16 reviews

mthay's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Murder, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Racial slurs, and Racism

carlycompton22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

A critical look at the dire situation of our prison system in the context of a grotesque near-future world that seems all too possible in today's entertainment and political environment. This book makes you examine your own preconceived notions about right and wrong, justice and freedom, and how our society views and treats those incarcerated for serious crimes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, Gore, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Torture, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Homophobia, and Blood

azureumbreon's review against another edition

challenging dark informative tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Violence, Death, Confinement, Torture, Police brutality, Classism, and Dementia

Moderate: Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, and Cancer

embel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Body horror, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Gore, Blood, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexism

missaayyy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Suicide, Rape, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Racism

3littlewordz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Self harm, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Gore, Bullying, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Classism, and Cursing

kristenbynoe's review

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Rape, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness

aksmith92's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I've sat on this review for quite some time and honestly haven't been able to stop thinking about this book and its impact since I put it down. Therefore, it will be added to my 6-star reads for 2024. I was nervous to read this book - it received a lot of hype, and some said it was slightly challenging to follow (writing style-wise). But, this book WORKED for me. I doubt I'll be able to articulate why and how it did in the best way, but it's truly a phenomenal book.

The plot: We are thrown into chaos on page one - Loretta Thurwar is introduced by way of having to kill another inmate named Melancholia Bishop through Criminal Action Penal Entertainment (CAPE), which is a top-rated "extreme sports program" that takes inmates from the private prison industry and turns them into...gladiators of sorts. Colloquially, they are known as the Chain-Gang All-Stars, and we walk through Thurwar's life in CAPE and plenty of others, including Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker. The CAPE program is heavily explained because Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah wants you to understand how thought-out this program is, and we see, in detail, how the characters get to CAPE and what they have to do while they are in CAPE. We intimately meet these characters and their lives while getting doses of "regular" folks on the outside immersed in this dystopia-like world. In the process of reading this fictional story, we also get to read some footnotes about the mass incarceration system in our current world and reckon with what it means to be in an unchecked capitalist society.

What I loved: Everything. This was poignant, devastating, and brutal. There is no way around it - the book contains incredible violence. However, what is ALSO incredibly sad to read is the thought processes of those in the prison system who have learned that CAPE is the only way, who then adopt this violence-like mindset. There is a little bit of Stockholm Syndrome here - the stars of CAPE get used to the fame and "fortune" in this program (the further you get, the better food and clothing you have, etc.). While distant from what you just read, every chapter is connected in some way, and it's interesting to read about inmates, protesters, spectators, and even those involved in the CAPE program. Everyone you read about feels exceptionally human. The inmates are never portrayed as fantastic or good people, but they know this is an awful program.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah was masterful in his storytelling - a perfect example of "what could be" in our current society. Even on page three, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah decided (likely strategically) to connect the game contractually to mention the Super Bowl; it made me laugh, not out of actual laughter but because I can actually imagine that happening. There are mentions of "Whole Market" and other brands that we can assume and infer....this novel seemed like a dystopia but was entirely too relatable. There are incredible juxtapositions that just had me thinking. For example, we get chapters from someone named Emily's point of view - just a regular ole' white married woman who seems not to love CAPE and the games but somehow can't look away. One night, she's watching an episode of the Chain-Gang All-Stars on her smart refrigerator (just in case you can't get to your TV in time!). Emily is watching LinkLyfe, where cameras follow Chains/Links into nature and watch them "March." When the camera comes to Hurricane Staxxx, she covers her face with her arms that have "Xs" tattooed on them for every death she causes. The Xs on her arms align perfectly with her eyes, and she sticks her tongue out, pretending to be a dead cartoon character. We see this from Emily's point of view from her Fridge TV, and the irony of it all is just palatable.

One of my favorite parts is how connected I felt to the characters. Some who've read this book have mentioned that the chapter structure and how the story is told could be better, leading to them forgetting about the characters or not feeling as connected. I disagree; I don't know how Adjei-Brenyah did it, but I was fully immersed in all the characters and their stories. 

This is satire, though. We must remember that this is told from what we view as "an extreme." However, you can't help but feel its relevance and its importance. 

What I didn't like: I liked everything. Literally, everything was important to me, and this book had an incredibly profound impact on me. It's an essential conversation starter about our current US system regarding justice and rehabilitation. I loved it so much, in the worst way possible. To love this book means that you likely hated it and were uncomfortable. It was the point. It is NOT a cozy read by any means, and the ending will stun you somehow. But I cannot recommend this book enough. 

"LinkLyfe might be a nature show if people cared more for the canvas and less for the blood painted all over it."

"When you think of us, remember that just because something is, doesn't mean it can't change, and just because you haven't seen something before, that doesn't mean it's impossible. They call this the freeing ground. So who's going to be freed: me or you?"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Grief, Racism, Classism, Gore, Confinement, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Torture, Death of parent, Body horror, Death, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Vomit

Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Rape is not depicted, but is alluded to (either by an inmate doing it or someone had it happen to them). Same with sexual assault/harassment/violence - not on the page but mentioned.

micklesreads's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is one of the most beautiful and most devastating books I've ever read. I also think this is a fantastic introduction to abolition and to the horror of the US carceral system for those who know little, especially if they are unlikely to listen to abolitionists themselves. What an incredibly powerful book. I can't stop crying.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Blood, Slavery, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Racial slurs, Torture, and Racism

paigebypage__'s review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

I've been torn open and left hollow. This book is harrowing in ways that will never leave me, and I think that's for the best. Easily one of the best books published this year. Absolutely groundbreaking, and the first time I have ever described a book as a Must Read. It is unmissable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Hate crime, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Classism, Death, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Blood