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andyourstruly's review against another edition
4.75
The best way of describing it is that genre of book where someone in the main character's life has just died, leaving behind a tangled web of mystery for the MC to unravel and resolve ... from the dead person's point of view.
The author does an amazing job painting the political landscape of Sri Lankan politics in the 70s-90s in all of its complexity and using it as a vehicle to reveal the story as opposed to allowing it to bog the story down. The main character is jaded and unlikeable, but the slow reveal throughout the book of what leads him to be like that and the dynamics involved was really impressively handled. I really loved the ending and the way that the author doesn't pretend to try to fix everything.
I read this book because a friend of a friend told me that her book club had read it and that everyone but her had said that, while they liked it, they would not recommend it as a book club book, a sentiment that she had disagreed with. Having now read it, I have to agree with my friend's friend: if these aren't the topics we discuss in a book club, then what are?
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Police brutality, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Homophobia, and War
Moderate: Torture, Child death, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Go into this book on your guard, my friend.kermities'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? Yes
4.5
The history brought me closer to my roots, the spirituality thought me more about my culture , the characters made me reflect on the complexities of being kind in a pathologically flawed and unjust world and the ending was the cherry on the cake that left me moved and hopeful.
Graphic: War and Death
Minor: Torture, Police brutality, Suicide, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Animal death, and Child death
This book is centered and about death and war. War is horrible so of course there are descriptions of it.cat_22'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: Murder, War, Violence, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Child death, Body horror, and Homophobia
Minor: Abandonment, Colonisation, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
charlottelilac'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
3.0
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Murder, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Police brutality, Colonisation, Car accident, and War
mrlsdevos'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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Genocide, Car accident, Child death, Hate crime, Torture, Racism, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, War, Xenophobia, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Classism, Mental illness, Slavery, Animal death, Death of parent, Suicide, Colonisation, Car accident, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
relyu39'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
5.0
Graphic: Torture and War
Minor: Ableism
alisonvh'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: Infidelity, Drug use, War, Racism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Alcohol, Abandonment, Murder, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Blood, Violence, and Child death
leensbeans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Suicide, Cursing, and Infidelity
Minor: Animal death and Child death
mcwattsup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I listened to the audiobook, which is expertly narrated, but quickly discovered that this is a dense book. I probably should have physically read it so that I could give 100% of my attention to it instead of doing other things while I listened. So as a consequence, certain plot points and characters glossed over my head and I wasn’t following the story well at some moments.
Additionally I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. It was kind of aggressive and constantly described people’s body parts in ways that weren’t relevant to story or character building. The word “fondle” is used a lot! And idk it just started getting on my nerves. So again, this one just wasn’t for me but I can see where others would like it.
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Death, Homophobia, War, Torture, and Violence
jenbosen's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Gore, Alcohol, Blood, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Genocide, Murder, Racism, Police brutality, Child death, Violence, Torture, Death, Animal death, and Suicide