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leahrosiee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was art, not a book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Blood, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Drug use
Minor: Medical content
imaginefishes's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The book is incredibly reflective and draws the reader in through a 2nd-person POV, and emotions are further intensified via constant repetition of certain words or phrases. The book vividly depicts what the Black experience is like, good and bad, and while not the intent of the author, I think anyone from a minority group can relate to a certain extent regarding the thoughts and emotions the main character feels. While I found the story to really speak to me, I began losing some interest by the end, though the unconventional descriptors and metaphors the author uses really targets the precise emotions the character was feeling. All in all, it was a fantastic read and sent me off my own journey of exploration of love (not just romantic) and what that means to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, and Blood
whatannikareads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
I reaaaaaally wanted to like this more than I did; I liked the ideas that were being thrown out—talking about being a Black man, incorporating his love for music, the modern love story, photography, etc. But I think they didn’t actually connect with each other and ended up just being their own little bubbles that didn’t flow well. And the writing style is really beautiful and poignant at times, but at others it got too descriptive that I felt myself zoning out. So I went through waves of mixed emotions while reading. Writing in second person was an interesting choice; again, I think it either hit or it was a bit obstructive in the process of comprehending the reading as it had me trying to visualize myself in the situation but also seeing it from a Black man’s perspective as intended, so it took more effort for me to process.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Murder, and Police brutality
liv2295's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
Moderate: Blood
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