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cbugsy's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Alcohol, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Fatphobia
Minor: Genocide
jillybar's review
- 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
I digress. This was really good! Multiple character threads that come together at an Oakland powwow at the end of the book. I enjoy this type of storytelling where we jump from character to character and getting to see how they are all connected and related. A long overdue read.
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship
library_anne's review
- 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
Graphic: Pregnancy, Mass/school shootings, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Rape, War, Violence, Child abuse, Hate crime, Murder, Drug use, Addiction, Blood, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Cursing, Genocide, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse
litliz's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Ableism, Body horror, Death, Cursing, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Racism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Genocide, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Body shaming, Grief, Addiction, Blood, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Car accident, Death of parent, Dysphoria, and Suicide
Moderate: Abortion
ju10ma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Minor: Rape
felofhe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Classism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Violence, Ableism, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Body shaming, War, Car accident, Child abuse, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
brewdy_reader's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
๐๐ช๐ต๐๐ช๐ค โข ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ช๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ โข โฃ๐๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐บ
๐๐ถ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฅ 5 ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฆ 2018
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ 3.75 rounded up to 4
A Pulitzer finalist, this debut novel by Tommy Orange tackles the largely untold story of modern day Native Americans living in urban cities. Set primarily in Oakland, this narrative is told from 12(!) POVs. When I first began reading I thought, "this has to be based on a true story,โ and I continued to feel that way until the story arcs started to overlap in overly-coincidental ways that only happens in fiction. However without that factor, this could have easily been a memoir told as a mini docuseries, referencing historical events that took place from 1492 through 21st century Alcatraz.
There's nothing romanticized here. No stories like what is depicted in popular TV series/movies with life on the Rez or the American frontier. There is no pulling of punches & no white savior mentality. This is not a feel good story. However, it is a well-written one, packed with vivid analogies, metaphors, and descriptions of life in a system that reinforces the status quo. Paying homage to the indelible stains of colonization and genocide of a nation and the long-lasting effects impacting many generations into the future.
The ending was not satisfying with characters' fates in the air as well as many unresolved issues between MCs. I was left wanting more than what we got. Even still, this should absolutely be required reading for all Americans. In order to change our future we must understand our past; we must confront it head on, however painful it may be.
So many TW: Domestic Violence, Gun Violence, Mass Shootings, Acoholism, Death, Addiction, Racism, Murder, Colonization, Suicide, Genocide, Drug Use/Abuse, Grief, Child Death, Rape, Cancer, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Violence...and more
Graphic: Grief, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Car accident, Child death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
itsjadenbaby's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Colonisation, Racism, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Drug use, and Cancer
Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Grief, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Fatphobia, and Classism
itsradsmads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Hate crime
mtnest's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Cursing, Racism, Rape, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship