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bookdragon217's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby was writing perfection for me. Cosby's narrative style was propulsive and enthralling. I could not put this one down because once I started, I was simultaneously, vividly visualizing all the action. I felt this book on a visceral level & when it finished I was left deeply emotional from the roller coaster ride.
This was primarily a character study on humanity and the ways that people hurt the ones they love the most due to ignorance and unwillingness to understand and put themselves in the shoes of another person. It was a deep dive into male parenting and the ways that race, religion and masculinity poison relationships with children, especially sons. It was a study on how two men deeply rooted in homophobic beliefs used their pain, grief and regret to attempt to gain redemption and justice while examining themselves and their own motivations. The fact that Ike and Buddy Lee are different races added more layers to work through. It was a constant conversation between the two working through their differences that allowed breakthroughs and growth to happen despite the violent nature of the story.
But this story was also a reckoning. It was reckoning with racism, toxic masculinity, homophobia, religious oppression, male fascination with violence, hate and revenge and redemption that comes at the highest cost. This story reminds us that LGBTQIA people still don't have safe spaces to just exist and to love freely without threat of violence or death. For some, home is the place where they face the most rejection and hate. This story also reminds us that it's never too late to self examine & do the work to undo the indoctrination of the harmful beliefs that are taught to us. It's never too late to advocate for others or to ask for forgiveness. Ignorant & fear based actions have dire consequences but the unlearning should be an active process.
S.A. Cosby has easily become an auto-buy author. This book had my heart racing and left me bawling. Do yourself a favor & read it!
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Outing
raynaaskiverr'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Murder, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Racism, and Violence
morganish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Alcoholism, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Vomit, Kidnapping, Medical content, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Terminal illness, and Torture
This book is about two blue-collar homophobic ex-con dads, one black and one white, whose gay sons have been murdered so the fathers decide to go on a high-octane quest for revenge. It's very graphic in terms of racial and homophobic slurs, depictions of violence against queer people, and positioning a lot of racism as just sort of part of the Southern landscape that must be dealt with. My personal interpretation is that the author is writing from a place of experience when it comes to the racism, and perhaps a desire to change the minds of people in his own actual community when it comes to views on queer people and queer issues. However, that is a bit undermined by the lackluster and sometimes unnecessarily sexist depiction of female characters. All in all, while the book seems to be getting great reviews, my big warning would be that though Razorblade Tears features homophobia as a major theme, it does not feel like it is made with queer people in mind. Again, I don't always think every book that challenges conventions needs to aimed at and comfortable for the people in question affected, but it is certainly A Choice, and one that people should understand before running out and picking up this book.tinytrashqueen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Hate crime, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, Gore, Transphobia, Torture, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Vomit, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Deadnaming
jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, and Terminal illness
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Transphobia, Torture, Sexism, and Sexual content