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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
A deeply emotional and disturbing story told by teen Tangy Mae of her biracial family in 1950s rural Georgia where the mother is abusive (in every way), emotionally erratic and narcissistic. The mother has ten children, all from different and mostly unknown fathers, who have different ways of coping with the abuse and poverty at home and the violent racism outside of the home.
The intro lets the reader know that this is a debut and only novel written by passed Delores Phillips, so my disappointment at the end of this story was expected. Phillips had written a partial sequel so I'm not sure what will happen with that work, but I sure hope someone can keep it going so I can know how Tangy Mae is doing!
The intro lets the reader know that this is a debut and only novel written by passed Delores Phillips, so my disappointment at the end of this story was expected. Phillips had written a partial sequel so I'm not sure what will happen with that work, but I sure hope someone can keep it going so I can know how Tangy Mae is doing!
One piece of advice: don't pick this book up if you have anything else on your plate. It is difficult to put down - I read the first 200 pages yesterday and the final 200 this afternoon.
This was a hard book to read, but really well written. The story of a girl whose only crime is being the darkest child of a horrible mother.
This book ripped my heart! I’ve never seen so much hate and sadness but I couldn’t put it down. The storyline was so serious and painful! It was an excellent read despite me wanting to fight!
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- This was a profoundly emotional and challenging read, but I found it impossible to put down. I was desperate for the story to have a happy ending. The house with three rooms tells the story of a broken, unhealthy, and very toxic family of eleven. Each family member will stay with me for a long time, and I could have read more about each character. The author did a fantastic job illustrating how an abusive parent can affect each child differently. The mother was the worst character I have ever encountered in a book. If you're considering reading this book, check for trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abortion, Murder
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
“We all begin to move, fetching water, tearing bandages, pouring our love onto a wound that will never heal. We work as a silent, defeated army, beaten down by our mother, tending our wounded. We do not retaliate for our victory is inconceivable.” —The Darkest Child
Y'all... Y'ALL don't hear me. Put your tea cup/mug down come close and listen up. I have THE DARKEST CHILD on #audiobook narrated by #BahniTurpin & borrowed the ebook from my library.
Y'ALL this book is full of all kinds of stuff you might not want to read about. Trigger warnings are abundant.
But the short of it is, ROZELLE, she got some serious issues. This woman has 10 kids she treats so horrifically, there is no caption I can write to capture it all.
Tangy Mae, almost 15, has seen & experienced WAY more than any child her age should. Her oldest sister Mushy has gotten out of the small Georgia town they live in, after their mother prostituted her for years. Her sister Tarabelle, almost 18, can't wait to get out of her mother's house, since Rozelle has done the same thing to her.
Rozelle is a fair skinned black woman, who believes the world should cater to her wants and needs. Her moods rage without warning and the children are left beaten, hurt physically but scared emotionally.
Tangy Mae is smart, her nose stuck in a book but her mother does not nurture or encourage her. As the darkest of Rozelle's children, her mother She tells her she's going to have to quit school and bring some money into the house.
This book has been an emotional roller coaster. This book touches on many themes, colorism, child abuse, racism & segregation. It's hard to read but I have come to care about Tangy and the rest of her siblings.
Y'all... Y'ALL don't hear me. Put your tea cup/mug down come close and listen up. I have THE DARKEST CHILD on #audiobook narrated by #BahniTurpin & borrowed the ebook from my library.
Y'ALL this book is full of all kinds of stuff you might not want to read about. Trigger warnings are abundant.
But the short of it is, ROZELLE, she got some serious issues. This woman has 10 kids she treats so horrifically, there is no caption I can write to capture it all.
Tangy Mae, almost 15, has seen & experienced WAY more than any child her age should. Her oldest sister Mushy has gotten out of the small Georgia town they live in, after their mother prostituted her for years. Her sister Tarabelle, almost 18, can't wait to get out of her mother's house, since Rozelle has done the same thing to her.
Rozelle is a fair skinned black woman, who believes the world should cater to her wants and needs. Her moods rage without warning and the children are left beaten, hurt physically but scared emotionally.
Tangy Mae is smart, her nose stuck in a book but her mother does not nurture or encourage her. As the darkest of Rozelle's children, her mother She tells her she's going to have to quit school and bring some money into the house.
This book has been an emotional roller coaster. This book touches on many themes, colorism, child abuse, racism & segregation. It's hard to read but I have come to care about Tangy and the rest of her siblings.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fuckin’ bleak
dark
emotional