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ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition
4.0
❝I like the woods, in them the possibilities seem endless. They are where wild things are, and I like to think the wild always wins❞
This book has been a wonderful surprise. I only had the general idea from the description, but it goes so much further. It's not a sci-fi story, it's a mix between own voices, paranormal, dystopia, LGBTQIA+ and YA. It's unique.
The story starts with Vern. She's in labour, all by herself in the woods. She's only 15 years old and far away from home. She's strong. She has to be. Someone is following her, threatening her, and she knows who's sent them. Vern is smart and knows how to survive in the woods and take care of her babies.
Little by little we know that Vern is running away from the community her mother and brother belong. She's married with the lider and she knows he will do whatever is needed to make her and their children come back.
This community, the Blessed Acres of Cain, started as a way of helping all the people of African ancestry to stand up for their rights and fight against groups such as White Supremacy. Though other intentions were also a part of its foundation. Vern knows that the community is hiding something. Aweful things happen inside those lands. The enemy isn't only outside those doors that keep the people from the Blessed Acres of Cain imprisoned.
Absolutely recommend it and I hope to read soon the other books by Rivers Solomon.
Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book has been a wonderful surprise. I only had the general idea from the description, but it goes so much further. It's not a sci-fi story, it's a mix between own voices, paranormal, dystopia, LGBTQIA+ and YA. It's unique.
The story starts with Vern. She's in labour, all by herself in the woods. She's only 15 years old and far away from home. She's strong. She has to be. Someone is following her, threatening her, and she knows who's sent them. Vern is smart and knows how to survive in the woods and take care of her babies.
Little by little we know that Vern is running away from the community her mother and brother belong. She's married with the lider and she knows he will do whatever is needed to make her and their children come back.
This community, the Blessed Acres of Cain, started as a way of helping all the people of African ancestry to stand up for their rights and fight against groups such as White Supremacy. Though other intentions were also a part of its foundation. Vern knows that the community is hiding something. Aweful things happen inside those lands. The enemy isn't only outside those doors that keep the people from the Blessed Acres of Cain imprisoned.
Absolutely recommend it and I hope to read soon the other books by Rivers Solomon.
Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
centralia's review against another edition
5.0
Sorrowland was something of a delightful surprise for me. Rivers Solomon's books are always well written and uniquely imaginative, but I haven't enjoyed one so much or rated one so highly yet. Based on the premise of this book alone, I didn't actually expect to enjoy it (the kids were not as overbearing or annoying as I'd feared), and yet I thought the themes in this book were wildly interesting and very real too since the author drew so heavily from actual history to inform the worldbuilding. This book was so thoughtful, and I love it for that. It integrates various bits of history and expertly blends it with horror and speculative elements, as is characteristic of Solomon's writing. I didn't take many notes so I just can't remember all the fascinating details, but this book really impressed me.
I was also happily surprised by the queer romance elements and gender fuckery, but I really should have expected no less from Solomon. I especially like how they handled the main character Vern's shame around her sexuality, how that was navigated throughout the book. I think there was some really effective character development there because later in the story there's a sex scene that I think otherwise would have read as uncomfortably bizarre for me if the author hadn't already been building those themes.
Here are two quotes I saved that I think somewhat convey what I found enjoyable within this book:
"What order of events did Vern need to disrupt in the lives of the millions upon millions who woke up every morning proud to be Americans? What made someone love lies?" I personally think more could have been said on this point instead of leaving it entirely open-ended, but it does make sense coming from Vern's perspective.
"...not touch starved, precisely, but used to a particular type of emotional isolation that came after years of convincing yourself it was all right, better even, to be alone. As a defense mechanism, such self-delusion had its place, but once the farce faded, it was like your whole body transformed all its years of misbelieving into insatiable hunger for contact." Relatable as hell.
I was also happily surprised by the queer romance elements and gender fuckery, but I really should have expected no less from Solomon. I especially like how they handled the main character Vern's shame around her sexuality, how that was navigated throughout the book. I think there was some really effective character development there because later in the story there's a sex scene that I think otherwise would have read as uncomfortably bizarre for me if the author hadn't already been building those themes.
Here are two quotes I saved that I think somewhat convey what I found enjoyable within this book:
"What order of events did Vern need to disrupt in the lives of the millions upon millions who woke up every morning proud to be Americans? What made someone love lies?" I personally think more could have been said on this point instead of leaving it entirely open-ended, but it does make sense coming from Vern's perspective.
"...not touch starved, precisely, but used to a particular type of emotional isolation that came after years of convincing yourself it was all right, better even, to be alone. As a defense mechanism, such self-delusion had its place, but once the farce faded, it was like your whole body transformed all its years of misbelieving into insatiable hunger for contact." Relatable as hell.
janagaton's review against another edition
4.0
incredible. so much social commentary weaved into dark fiction. Gogo is my favorite character. writing is fantastic. such an intelligent storyline.
prof_chronotis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
shauna_grenead's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Persevere on this one. I took a bit to get going, but now that I’ve finished I appreciate the work the author put in and how it challenges the reader to reflect on their own thoughts and ideas about being human, our society, history, sexuality, racism, and identity. I love the tie to nature and appreciate the different ways to explore Vern’s metamorphosis.
Having said all this, it is not one for the faint of heart. The writing is beautifully raw and grotesque. I don’t believe I fit the target audience for Sorrowland. I’m glad I read it anyway.
Having said all this, it is not one for the faint of heart. The writing is beautifully raw and grotesque. I don’t believe I fit the target audience for Sorrowland. I’m glad I read it anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Colonisation, and Animal death
Minor: Suicide
tess_me's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.75
Incredible story, memorable characters, I did feel that the ending felt rushed. It seems like Vern almost got off too easily
kathrynjonesreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Loved this book!
Rivers Solomon has taken the black history of the US, LGBTIQ history, body horror, family violence and early motherhood to create the excellently-written story of Vern. It's a dark, violent and kinda weird story that is also surprisingly readable and fun. I enjoyed this a lot and will keep my eye out for further work from this author.
Rivers Solomon has taken the black history of the US, LGBTIQ history, body horror, family violence and early motherhood to create the excellently-written story of Vern. It's a dark, violent and kinda weird story that is also surprisingly readable and fun. I enjoyed this a lot and will keep my eye out for further work from this author.
hollandvk's review against another edition
4.0
This was a Goodreads Giveaway. I like the writing style and the characters, but the genre is just not for me.