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szyca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Animal death, Child death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Grief, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
acozycactus'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
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Death, Child abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Racism, Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Mass/school shootings
annabulkowski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Religious bigotry, Racism, Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Rape
Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Blood, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Mental illness, and Murder
johoha93'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Torture, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Racism, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
cde10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Racial slurs, and Torture
Moderate: Police brutality
misspennreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Police brutality, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
klbreyfogle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, Sexual assault, Murder, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Sexual violence, Rape, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Classism, Racial slurs, and Gore
literaryintersections'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
I picked up Blacktop Wasteland earlier this year - I had it on my shelf for a minute and was in a book slump. Lord. Lord. Lord. I finished it in 2 days, reeling with visions of car chases, people catching on fire, and small southern towns complexly created with racism, community, poverty, booze, and car grease.
The second I saw ATSB I preordered it. Then waited too many days for B&N to deliver it (lol). And was once again blown away. Cosby’s use of language is unmatched: descriptive and clear, vividly crafting a story that is lush and inventive. The characters jump off the page and feel like real life - Titus especially felt 3D. Racism and misogyny, homophobia and poverty, the bastardization of religion, all intertwined with love and family, Black man vulnerability and community. The violence is horrible but you can’t look away, turning page after page to try to get a glimpse of the antagonist - to understand what would make a person do such horrible things.
No one comes out unscathed in this book. And it left me thinking about these complexities far longer after I closed the cover. Do yourself a favor. Read ATSB. Then read Blacktop Wasteland. And join me on this journey as an absolute fan of Cosby’s work.
Graphic: Police brutality, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Death
feralbookwife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Ableism, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexism, Slavery, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Torture, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Stalking, Chronic illness, and Classism