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brittonmc1221's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Blood, and Mental illness
doppy'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, Murder, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Suicide
abbruzzese's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this book is like the temptation of the burning flame—impossible to turn away from; painful to the touch.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, and Outing
Moderate: Violence, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, and Death
Minor: Child abuse
catrickbateman's review against another edition
5.0
It’s hard not to fall in love with the only blanket in winter. And love, Grand did.
IM SO DEVASTATED THAT I FINISHED THIS WAAHHH 😖 tiffany mcdaniel is the IT girl for me now.. both of her books are so magically written, so familiar and so truthfully poignant i feel like i’m leaving family when i finish her stories.
they are STORIES, there’s a whole world inside this book, hundreds of people and places and feelings that were so REAL and fleshed out. i honestly had no idea where this book was going but i loved every page and chapter more than the last. not sure i’ve ever felt such love and fondness for a fictional story character before Grand & im sure i’ll think about his character long after finishing this book.
just such beautiful, rich, quality writing with twists and turns, characters with souls, reflection, red herrings and dead ends. i already want to read again IM SERIOUS
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Racism, and Suicide
Minor: Blood
kayleighcanread's review against another edition
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Murder, Homophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death and Bullying
Minor: Cannibalism and Rape
divafern's review against another edition
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Outing, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Alcoholism, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Abandonment, Child death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Police brutality
epiphylium'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
The premise of the novel, to put briefly, is it is one of the hottest summers to ever be recorded in this town and Fielding's father, invites the devil to come. When his invitation is accepted, the devil comes to town not with horns and a tail, but in the body of a 13 year old black boy.
Some of my favourite things about the book includes the way it was set up. It is narrated by an older Fielding who is reflecting on parts of his life post 1984, which helps propel the story of that summer forward, leading up to everything that happens. You can tell that something has happened, as Fielding is so broken and guilt ridden that you can tell he has experienced a lot of traumatic events, but we don't know what they are until we progress through the novel.
This isn't a long novel, only a little over 300 pages, but the author covers so many important issues: racism, homophobia (during the AIDS outbreak in the 1980s), child abuse (incl rape, but mentioned briefly), religion, mob mentality, agoraphobia. Although set 4 decades ago now, these issues are still so prevalent today and it's something we should all care about and actively try and use our privilege to advocate for.
I can understand that because of the heavy themes in this novel that it is not for everyone, and like a previous reviewer, oczerniecka has said "It is hard for me to express how I could love a book that is depicting the most heinous aspects of human nature. This story moved me and showed me all the different sides of the issues that are brought up in the story. The characters affected by the events of the summer are complicated, and you cannot say if they are good or bad. Because when you choose to brand someone as bad, you are throwing off all the good about the person. And the same go with marking someone as good, you may not see the evil that is within the person. Read this deeply moving and sad story; this may shatter you and make you weep, and sometimes books should do just that."
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Rape
whatellisreadnext's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
My two main issues were:
1) the setting of 1984 to utilise HIV/Aids as a shocking plot point
2) the fact we are told to give empathy to the white supremacists that brutally murder a black child. Again this was utilised as a plot point to shock the reader.
This book is written by a white woman. It came out 5 years ago, but if it was released now, it would be getting major backlash. It didn't sit right with me, and I recommend you don't read it.
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Loss of a child