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marietimus'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
beanew'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
4.25
The motifs throughout the book were well explored and neatly wrapped up, and I wish I had could write an essay on the ways Gyasi chose to resolve certain elements (the stone necklaces!!!). I found so many of the characters deeply compelling and empathetic, so wildly different from each other. Gyasi never shies away from the brutality of the slave trade, it feels very painfully realistic in ways that Americans are never truly shown in history class.
My criticisms are that I felt the very final chapter was not as moving as I expected it to be simply because Marcus is the least fleshed-out character (in my opinion) of the whole book, so to end with him felt weak. I loved the character of Marjorie, but I found that the similarities to Gyasi’s own life experiences took me out of the story many times; instead of being immersed, I found myself wondering which pieces of that chapter were autobiographical or wish fulfillment of the author. Also a pattern of minor fat phobia happened frequently enough that it simply can’t be the character’s perspectives, it’s just Gyasi’s opinion. Beautiful people are “thick”, dumb/mean/loud/gluttonous people are “fat”. Felt weird, but didn’t majorly detract from the story!
Overall, the concept was so beautifully executed and the book was so moving and heartbreaking in equal measures. I would highly recommend it!
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Police brutality, Confinement, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Slavery
Moderate: Child death and Colonisation
Minor: Fatphobia
greenan26'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Classism, Homophobia, Rape, Trafficking, Torture, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Excrement and Confinement
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Child death, Death, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Ableism
Moderate: Sexual violence and War
beezinda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was crafted and really showcases the author's narrative skill. There's a lot to relate back, forth, across, and between characters. I don't have the words to explain that this is so much more than a slave book.
This book resonates deeply for me as it is a shining example of how the strength and soul of black people is the unrelenting spirit to be fully human despite all the circumstances and systems that constantly seek to deprive us our humanity.
This book showcases the full range of human emotions and experiences. I hate that I find it refreshing and revelatory to see such range with black nuanced characters. It really is so good.
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Slavery, Colonisation, Death, Rape, Child death, and Racism
isabelgb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, War, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Classism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, and Slavery
thefall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Drug abuse, Confinement, Addiction, Sexism, Racial slurs, Vomit, Murder, Hate crime, Colonisation, Classism, Drug use, Death, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Slavery, and Excrement
arayo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Excrement, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, Rape, Trafficking, War, Confinement, Drug use, Genocide, Sexual assault, Slavery, Racism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Mental illness, Death of parent, Infertility, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Chronic illness
emcheym's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Death of parent, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, War, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Infertility, Suicide, Cursing, and Death
vittoriav's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Um check the trigger warnings first and foremost.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Colonisation, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, War, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Police brutality, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Cultural appropriation, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, and Rape