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rieviolet'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
3.75
Still, I think that this kind of narrative structure (chapters with an ever-changing point of view) is just not my personal preference. Inevitably (as it happens, for example, with short stories collections), there were certain characters' storylines that I appreciated more compared to others. In general, I found the final chapters (those closer to us in time) less engaging.
There were also sections that I liked but that ended a bit too abruptly, leaving too much left unsaid about crucial events and the characters' fate (and not all of the storylines got mentioned again and expanded upon, further on in the narration).
At times, the book got a bit too graphic for my (I admit a bit delicate) sensibilities, but it does deal with very heavy topics; just be sure to check the content warnings.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Drug use, Police brutality, Sexual content, Excrement, Kidnapping, Death, Drug abuse, Slavery, Racism, Colonisation, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual violence, and Torture
Moderate: War, Child abuse, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
Minor: Suicide, Vomit, Cannibalism, Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Ableism, Murder, Infertility, Bullying, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Child death
cardlikecredit's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Slavery, War, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
uisimportant's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Slavery, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Racism
ahager11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Slavery, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Pregnancy, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and War
gracegawn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Racism
hannahbailey's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Child death, Blood, Death, Child abuse, Slavery, War, Kidnapping, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Xenophobia, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Death of parent, Confinement, Bullying, Mental illness, Grief, and Deportation
travisppe's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Drug use, Excrement, Hate crime, Infertility, Abandonment, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Trafficking, Addiction, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, War, Vomit, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
jordynkw's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Torture, Addiction, Drug use, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, War, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Colonisation, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Rape, Hate crime, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
lyzz'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: Addiction, Mental illness, Violence, Racism, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Torture
Moderate: Excrement, Murder, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Racial slurs, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Sexual violence and Rape
The book travels from the 1600s to modern day through the perspective of two black families. It shows the horror of slavery, colonialism and racism.seullywillikers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Slavery, Addiction, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Infertility, Rape, Suicide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence