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heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, and Infidelity
alisylvi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide
giselareads's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Murder and Suicide
cammiem8's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, and Racial slurs
noragjc's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Racial slurs, and Racism
karingforbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
The story is straightforward and simple, the writing is solid and enjoyable. There is a feeling that as a white person reading this, I’m missing something, but that’s to be expected and the foreword explained some of it. I don’t know that on its own, this would be a five. However, it discusses race and gender and marriage and their intersectionality in such a way that this book will stick with me for years to come. It’s a glance into passing, which isn’t something we talk about or acknowledge much. It’s an intriguing book
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder and Suicide
kellyofcali's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book still feels so modern and timely, especially when read in contrast to The Vanishing Half (not to say that book is not those things, just that they are interesting companions). It is hard to like the characters, and creates conflict with a potentially unreliable narrator, but it speak beautifully and painfully to themes of racism that are still sharply true today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Infidelity
annie_122's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Slavery, and Suicide
kazzhiggs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Racism, Murder, and Misogyny
acornish's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was lovely and unsettling, almost gothic. It left me with a lot of questions. I feel like the book asks the reader to decide their opinion of Claire given that Irene is somewhat of an unreliable narrator. Trying to figure out that opinion is uncomfortable and though provoking. A short read and a good one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Suicide