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fiaharringbook's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cancer, Colonisation, Sexual harassment, and Racism
Minor: Racial slurs, Alcohol, Deportation, Slavery, Genocide, Racism, and Police brutality
notthatcosta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Even as plot lines and moments fade in and out within the space of a few pages, I remained grounded in the motions - I felt tension, fear, frustration and even peace at points. I was also confused a lot, don't get me wrong.
While part of me would have liked more than the snapshot we received of this story, I was more impressed at the economy and the confidence in its delivery than I was disappointed in its length.
Moderate: Hate crime, Slavery, Death, Colonisation, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Racism
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
there's not a whole lot of plot here, merely different contexts and scenes from the narrator's life that eventually come together to form a finished puzzle and allow the reader to understand the reasoning behind her ultimate choice.
the novel's very reflective and introspective, and straddles the border of being almost preachy at times, but somehow it works: one couldnt possibly understand the narrator's current circumstances w/o being aware of the larger historical and political forces that precede her, shaping britain and its ppl into what they are - and how they act towards her and those like her - today.
i have to say brown does a stellar job of depicting what it's like to be a black british woman, even one on the ascent. i felt claustrophobic, exasperated, constantly judged simply reading abt the narrator's daily experience. the lie of being taught to always strive and be better so things can get better, but in reality it's never enough no matter what one does, white ppl will always deem minorities as outsiders granted unfair advantages. no wonder the narrator's seemingly bone-deep exhausted; the clownery rly never ends.
while the narrative can feel disjointed at times bc of the frequent, abrupt changes in setting, assembly is nevertheless an impactful book.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Racism, Cancer, and Sexism
Moderate: Mental illness, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Colonisation
Minor: Death and Medical content
marissab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexism, Cancer, Racism, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Terminal illness, Classism, Colonisation, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death, Medical content, Racial slurs, Trafficking, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault
just_one_more_paige's review
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Cancer